the Bangladeshi women who benefited from the program in Matlab were heavier and taller than those in the comparison group and also earned more. The availability of contraception gives women more control over their reproductive lives—they can decide not just how many babies to have but also when to have them. And there is clear evidence that getting pregnant too early in life is very bad for the health of the mother.18 Moreover, early pregnancy, or even getting married, often results in dropping out of school.19 But to locate the case for family planning in society’s desire to protect the
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