Causes and consequences of contraceptive discontinuation: evidence from 60 Demographic and Health Surveys.

This compendium provides detailed information on the dynamics of contraceptive use from 60 surveys conducted from 1990 to 2009 in 25 countries participating in the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Programme. A more in-depth analysis is based on most recent surveys during 2002–09 in 19 countries. The compendium makes available by far the largest amount of information and tabulations covering 422 478 episodes of contraceptive use in countries of Africa Asia eastern Europe and Latin America reported by women who were either married or in cohabiting unions at the time of use. The report provides information on key indicators of the dynamics of contraceptive use including the probability of discontinuing use for any reason and by specific reasons; and resumption of use within three months of discontinuing the method because of method-related reasons. Perhaps more important it provides indicators on reproductive consequences of contraceptive failure and discontinuation as assessed by the percentage of unwanted or mistimed births and abortions following the cessation of use. The compendium includes a detailed set of tables and highlights the key findings.