Contraceptive use and preferences of young married women in Kerala, India

Abstract

BackgroundAs in other states of India, female sterilization is the most widely used contraceptive method in Kerala where women have higher levels of education compared to most other states in India. This paper describes the use and preferences of contraceptive methods among young married women in Trivandrum district, Kerala, India.Subjects and methodsA community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out among 203 young married women (18–28 years) during January–March 2015 using multistage cluster sampling method. Statistical analysis was mainly descriptive, and chi-squared test was used to test the statistical significance of the relationship between sociodemographic factors and contraceptive use.ResultsThe average age at marriage for women was 21.3 years, and 23% of women had more than one child. Current use of any contraceptive methods was 58%. Female sterilization was preferred by 13% and it was significantly higher among women aged 25–28 years than in those aged 18–24 years (20% vs 2.6%, p<0.001). Female sterilization was significantly lower among women with higher levels of education than in women with an education level of plus two or below (5.8% vs 19%, p=0.006). Women were mostly in favor of female sterilization (91%), and a significantly lower proportion of highly educated women preferred female sterilization than women with an education of 12 years or below (85% vs 95.7%, p=0.008).ConclusionA considerable number of females in the age group 25–28-years opting for sterilization and the unique preference for female sterilization when the family size is complete show the predominant reliance on female sterilization among young women. Higher education delays sterilization in young women due to delayed marriage and childbirth. Women empowerment, proper information and assuring availability and accessibility to different methods can gradually change the dominant preference for female-oriented permanent method of contraception.

Study of choices of contraception in postpartum women in a tertiary care institute in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

“…Permanent sterilization (TL) is the most common method in women with completed family (60.6%). This was also seen in study by Thulaseedharan et al 9 Such significant studies have also been conducted by other Indian authors illustrating correlation between contraceptive practice and education, parity, and socioeconomic status with similar findings. 3,10…”

Study of number of children preferred and knowledge, attitude, practice regarding birth spacing and contraception among primigravida in urban setting

“…Study by Jissa et al, finds that 23% of women with >1 child had birth spacing of 2.2 years. 25 Most believed that ideal spacing was 3-5 years. Chandana et al, reports a low average birth spacing duration of <2 years.…”

“…Jissa et al, reported that 10% women revealed that decision of number of children was influenced by family pressure and 16% reported that sex of the 1 st baby would influence this decision. 25 Surprisingly 19% also considered mode of first delivery/ complications as an important factor in planning their family size.…”

“…11 Jissa et al, finds that sterilization was less preferred by more educated versus others (85% versus 95.7%), current use of any contraceptive method is 33% and of modern reversible methods is 14.9 %. 25 One out of 5 married woman aged 25-28 years opted for tubal ligation. Early marriage and childbirth lead to early contraception.…”

A study on contraceptive use among women attending immunization clinic at McGann teaching hospital, Shimoga

“…2 India implemented national family planning programme in 1952 as a national population policy to control its population growth and reduce poverty. 3 The utilization of contraceptive methods among Indian women is related to several factors such as religion, education, occupation of women etc. Currently, the most common method of contraception in India is female sterilization.…”