Title: Awareness Regarding Contraceptive use in Rural India
Authors: Sapna Berry, Naveen Kumar
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i7.38
Abstract
Background: Increase in population growth is one of the biggest problems faced by many developing countries including India. Contraception plays an important role to halt population growth. Even after India being the first country to launch the family planning programme still the prevalence of contraceptive use is low which in turn increases the maternal and infant mortality rate. A high level of unmet need for contraception persists among currently married women in the country. The study was conducted with the aim to assess knowledge, attitude and practices about contraceptive methods among married women of rural population.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient department of civil hospital Dalhousie, a rural hospital, for a period of six months from January 2020 to June 2020. A total of 412 participants aged 18-45 years were surveyed in that six month duration. Information was collected using pretested and predesigned questionnaire
Results: 51% of the study participants were in the age group of 26-35 years. Awareness about contraception was seen in 84% of the participants. Health workers were the source of information in 56%. 51% were practicing some kind of contraceptive method with condom being most common method. Only 26% were aware of side effects.
Conclusions: Increase in knowledge regarding contraceptives will increase the usage. This can be done by counselling for both husband and wife and providing proper information regarding contraceptive by removing their blind beliefs.
Keywords: Awareness, Contraception, Rural.
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