Knowledge, attitude and practice of family planning among women of reproductive age group attending outpatient department in a tertiary centre of Northern India

Abstract

Background: India with 1.35 billion people is the second most populated country in the world next to China. Total fertility rate of India is 2.2 and the current total fertility rate of Jammu and Kashmir is 1.7 which is still lagging behind various states. This study was conducted to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practices of contraception in women of reproductive age in this set up.Methods: The present cross-sectional study was carried out in patients attending OPD (outpatient department) of Obstetrics and Gynecology at ASCOMS, Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, India from 1st September 2017 to 31st August 2018. 200 married women aged between 18-49 years were included in this study. Socio-demographic characteristics of the women, their knowledge, attitude and practices on contraception were evaluated with the help of predesigned questionnaire.Results: Out of 200 women, maximum respondents belong to age group of 21-25 years (75.6%). Most of the contraceptive non-users belongs to age below 20 years (62.5%). Majority of respondents were Hindu (70.37%), maximum studied up to secondary level education (84.61%), 70.30% were housewives and 56.58% belongs to middle class. In 45% of respondents, media was the main source of information. Preferred spacing method was condom in 85% of cases. 68% women had knowledge of female sterilization. According to most women, family planning methods are meant for limitations of birth (43%) and 36% meant for spacing of birth. 80% women had positive attitude towards contraceptive usage. 50% experienced side effects with the use of contraceptives. The most common side effect was menstrual irregularities in 25% of cases. Most common reason for not using contraceptive methods among non-respondents were lack of knowledge in 50% of cases.Conclusions: The study showed that inspite of having good knowledge, utilization of contraceptives were less because of large family norm, religious myth, cultural and political barriers. Ignorance regarding use and side effects of various contraceptive methods is another reason for inadequate practice of family planning methods.

A study on assessment of unmet need and contraceptives practices adopted among currently married females residing at urban slums of Ahmedabad

“…18 Among study participants, 54% had partially correct knowledge about family planning objectives. Similar result was noticed by Qazi et al 17 In present study 96.5% of females had knowledge about various methods of family planning, similar findings were found by Qazi et al (94%), Shukla et al (91%), Thapa et al (92.3%). 16,17,20 Reason behind uniformly higher level of knowledge about various family planning methods can be easy availability of information through mass media and education.…”

“…Similar finding was there in the study carried out by Qazi et al (56.58%). 17 In the Gupta et al, 37.2% belonged to lower middle class. 18 Among study participants, 54% had partially correct knowledge about family planning objectives.…”

“…Similar result was found in study of Brahmbhatt et al, Qazi et al while in Gupta et al, 43.4% women were study up to primary school. 13,17,18 In the study carried out by Pegu et al, 26.5% were illiterate. In present study 84.5% women were housewives and same result obtained in Thapa et al 16,19 Around half of study participants belonged to lower middle class in present study.…”

Reproductive health status of rural married women in Tamil Nadu: A descriptive cross-sectional study

“…The prevalence of contraceptive use among the study participants was found to be comparatively high at 78% while studies done by Qazi et al and Thulaseedharan found the prevalence of contraceptive use to be 60% and 57.1%, respectively. [2122] Among the study participants, 64.1% of the study participants were found to be overweight/obese while in studies done by Karthik et al and Prasad et al , the prevalence of obesity was found to be 49.8% and 62%, respectively. [2324] This higher prevalence of obesity may be attributed to the fact that majority of the study participants (77.1%) were housewives who might be having a sedentary lifestyle.…”

Knowledge and Utilization of Family Planning Services among Women of Reproductive Age in Ilishan Community Health Center, Ogun State

“…The essential aim of family planning is to prevent unwanted pregnancies. A proper family planning can reduce the maternal mortality by reducing the number of pregnancies, abortions and the proportions of births at risk (Qazi et al, 2019). Although Nigeria remains the most populous country in Africa and 7th in the world with an estimated population of 198 million people having potentials of becoming the 3rd most populous country in the world by 2050 (UNDP, 2015); however, according to World Bank (2016) report, Nigeria has one of the lowest rates of contraceptive prevalence (20.4%) as effort to slow down population growth and reduce maternal and child mortality rate through family planning has not yielded desired result.…”