Family planning knowledge, attitude and practice among women of reproductive age from rural area of central India

Abstract

Introduction: National Family Planning Programme was launched in 1952, and India was the first country to adopt such pro-gramme. Reduction of birth rate and population stabilization was the main aim of this programme, but with the current status, this aim seems to be a complete failure. This study will help to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of women of rural area of central India, towards family planning. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study. All participants were interviewed with the help of a predesigned questionnaire. Results: Total 400 cases were interviewed. Contraceptive users were more in 30-40 years range (64.61%) and least in group < 20 years (41.17%). Illiterate females (18.75%) had the least contraceptive usage and graduated (69.76%) had maximum. 97.5% females were aware about contraceptive measures and media (43.07%) was major source. Only 56.25% participants showed a positive attitude towards family planning methods. 53.25% were contraceptive users. 41.31% opted tubal ligation, 21.59% oral contraceptive methods, and 14.08% male condoms. 46.75% were non-users of contraceptive methods. Reasons were eager to conceive (39.03%), husband’s denial (18.71%). Among contraceptive users, 51.17% have no side effects whereas 45.07% had backache or generalised weakness, 36.61% had a vaginal infection, 28.64% had menstrual problems. Conclusion: The present study, clearly showed that having knowledge about family planning methods and practicing them in their routine life are two different things because practise is influenced by various socio-demographic factors. There is a need for a different approach toward the family planning programme..