Objective The National Population Policy aims to expand voluntary and informed use of contraceptive services. This paper examines the determinants of use of female sterilisation versus other contraceptive methods in rural Bihar, one of the most socially and economically deprived states in India.

Methods Data for 1378 ever-married women aged 15–49 years in rural Bihar, who are currently using contraception, were abstracted from the Second National Family Health Survey. A logistic regression model was developed to understand the determinants of use of female sterilisation versus other contraceptive methods.

Results Maternal age, the number of living sons, religion, scheduled caste/tribe/backward class status, exposure to mass media and household standard of living are statistically significant determinants of the choice between sterilisation and other contraceptive methods.

Conclusion The study underscores the need to significantly broaden the contraceptive choice for women in rural Bihar.