title: Changes in contraceptive practice and the transition of reproduction pattern in the Czech population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse changes in contraceptive practice among Czech women, during the last two decades, and to evaluate the associated demographic impacts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recent trends in fertility and abortion are presented and compared with earlier survey data on contraceptive use. Data from four Czech surveys carried out as part of international projects in 1993, 1997, 2005, and 2008 were used to document changes in contraceptive practice among Czech women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater availability and greater acceptance of new birth control methods have resulted in increased contraceptive use and in the replacement of traditional methods with more effective alternatives. While only 42% of women in union (married and cohabiting) used condoms, the pill or an intrauterine contraceptive in 1993, 75% of all women with a partner currently use effective contraceptives. The fertility transition towards delayed childbearing has not resulted in additional requirements in terms of family planning as no increase in the abortion rate among young women is observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The shaping of a new reproduction pattern in the Czech Republic has been accompanied by significant improvements in contraceptive practice. Despite the fact that the Czech population cannot be considered to perform outstandingly in terms of use of contraception, any remaining unmet need for modern contraception is marginal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Demography and Geodemography, Faculty of Science, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, The Czech Republic. koc@natur.cuni.cz
authors.forename: Jiřina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kocourková
authors.forename: Tomáš
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fait
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018153:Czech Republic / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology; D012747:Sexual Partners; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female