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prevalence rate rose to 65.9 percent in 2022, it declined to 58.2 percent in 2025.

DGFP Director General Ashrafi Ahmad said despite limited government funding, people continue to access OCPs and ECPs. She stressed the importance of understanding access pathways to better support self-care practices.

She also noted that despite social taboos, young girls and unmarried individuals are accessing contraceptives, highlighting the need to break stigma and address biases.

Ashrafi said the study could generate important evidence to help shift public perception and strengthen family planning services.

WHO Deputy Representative to Bangladesh Rajesh Narwal emphasised the importance of the research, noting a gap between policy and implementation that the study could help bridge.