Experience with the 2010 Earthquake and Modern Contraceptive Use in Haiti

Mai Do, Tulane University

Nationally representative data from Haiti are used to 1) examine the associations between experience with a recent earthquake (2010) and poverty and modern FP use, and 2) to explore potential mechanisms of influences of this natural disaster on the use of FP services. Household and individual data from the 2012 DHS are combined to examine these associations among 7,849 women in union. Preliminary results indicate less use of modern contraceptives among individuals who experienced more severe consequences of disasters. They also suggest important roles of FP promotion efforts by FP fieldworkers and health professionals. Next steps of the study will explore mechanisms for disasters to influence modern contraceptive use. Structural equation modeling will be employed to assess pathways of influences of household’s experience with the earthquake on modern FP use. In addition, tests for exogeneity will be used to address the potential targeted allocation of FP promotion efforts.