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Table of Content Volume 15 Issue 3 - September 2020
A Cross-sectional study to assess reasons influencing unmet need for contraceptive choices among married women in rural field practice area
A Bhargavi1, K Gangadhara Reddy2*, A H Salgar3
1Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Kamineni Academy of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Hyderabad, Telangana-500068, INDIA. 2Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Ayaan Institute Of Medical Sciences And Research Centre, Kankamandi, R.R.District,Telangana-501504, INDIA. 3Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, DVVPF’s Medical College and Hospital, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, INDIA. Email: bhargavianreddy@gmail.com, gangadharareddy89@gmail.com, aki_salgar@yahoo.co.in
Abstract Background: Unmet need is defined on the basis of survey data as the percentage of women who are currently not using any method of contraception and want no more child (limiting) or delay child bearing (spacing). 3 The unmet need for family planning is declining but is still very high. There are various reasons responsible for unmet needs of family planning. Objective: To assess reasons influencing contraceptive method choices among women in rural field practice area. Methodology: The study was a cross sectional study among married women with reproductive age group in rural areas of Sangareddy district carried out in Department of Community Medicine, MNR Medical College, Sangareddy, (TS) during November 2015 to February 2016. A total sample size of 113 Women who are married in age group of 15-45 years and presumed to be sexually active were included in study. The data were collected using structured questionnaire and in depth interview guide in local language. The collected data were analyzed with proper statistical methods using MS excel 2010. Results: The utilization of contraceptive method was done by 52.21% women. The majority of the women not using contraception was because of refusal from husband (83.33%) followed by fear about contraception (77.78%) and religion beliefs (16.67%) Conclusion: Hence, we conclude that health awareness should be created among women regarding importance of contraceptive method. Keywords: Unmet need, Contraceptive, married women, rural.
INTRODUCTION An International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), Cairo, 1994 and the fourth world conference on women, Beijing, 1995 emphasized women empowerment including reproductive and sexual rights as the basic tool for development. 1 In developing countries an estimated 200 million couples would like to delay or stop childbearing but are not using any methods of family planning. 2 Unmet need is defined on the basis of survey data as the percentage of women who are currently not using any method of contraception and want no more child (limiting) or delay child bearing (spacing). 3 The unmet need for family planning is declining but is still very high. There are various reasons responsible for unmet needs of family planning according to World Health Organization (WHO) are 2 limited choice of family planning methods, limited access to contraception mainly among young people, poor people or unmarried people, fear or experience of having side-effects, cultural or religious opposition and poor quality of available family planning services. The present study was undertaken on contraceptive method of choice and its influencing factors of women in rural field practice area of tertiary care center. OBJECTIVE:
METHODOLOGY The study was a cross sectional study among married women with reproductive age group in rural area of Sangareddy district. The study was carried out in Department of Community Medicine, MNR Medical College, Sangareddy, (TS) during November 2015 to February 2016. A total sample size of 113 Women who are married in age group of 15-45 years and presumed to be sexually active were included in study. Unmarried and not willing to participate in study were excluded. The sample size for this study was calculated on the basis of total number of eligible couples. There were 1130 eligible couples in rural field practice area and 10% of that i.e. 113 were taken as sample size. The data were collected using structured questionnaire and in depth interview guide in local language. The questionnaire was used to collect information on use of contraceptives, personal, socio- demography and factors influencing contraceptive method choices. The collected data were analyzed with proper statistical methods using MS excel 2010.
RESULTS Table 1: Distribution according to use of contraception
It was seen that the utilization of contraceptive method was done by 52.21% women.
Table 2: Reasons influencing unmet need for choice of contraceptive method used among women
(*Multiple response present) It was observed that majority of the women not using contraception was because of refusal from husband (83.33%) followed by fear about contraception (77.78%) and religion beliefs (16.67%)
Table 3: Association of use of contraception and reasons influencing among women:
(*P<0.05 statistically significant) The association of use of contraception and reasons influencing unmet need for choice of contraceptive method used showed fear about contraception, refusal by husband and non availability showed statistical significant association. (P<0.05) DISCUSSION The present cross sectional study was conducted among married women with reproductive age group in rural areas of Sangareddy district by Department of Community Medicine, MNR Medical College, Sangareddy, (TS). A total sample size of 113 Women who are married in age group of 15-45 years and presumed to be sexually active were included in study. In the present study, among 113 women of reproductive age group 54 (47.79%) of women had unmet need for family planning. This is quite higher than that of national i.e. 12.9% and 12.1% as per NFHS 4.4 It was observed that majority of the women not using contraception was because of refusal from husband (83.33%) followed by fear about contraception (77.78%) and religion beliefs (16.67%) Similar findings were reported by Paudel and Budhathoki5 Weeam S Hammoudeh6 and Nisha Ram Relwani7. The association of use of contraception and reasons influencing unmet need for choice of contraceptive method used showed fear about contraception, refusal by husband and non availability showed statistical significant association. (P<0.05) Opposition of husbands and in-laws to the practice also created a personal opposition among women which deterred them from adopting family planning methods. Similarly a study among Bengali women explained multiple reasons for not using any method and found opposition of family members, including husband as well, as an important cause8. The link between husband’s approval and presence of mother-in-law in the household and lower uptake of contraception as seen in the work done by Pasha Omrana et al.9 among urban poor in Pakistan is explored and evidenced by various other studies10. Lack of knowledge/ignorance about family planning methods was also observed among Bengali women8 as one of the reasons affecting the practice. Education of women, exposure to media, concerted messages on family planning could help to overcome this barrier.
CONCLUSION The study concludes that health awareness should be created among women regarding importance of contraceptive method.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Authors are thankful to all the faculty members of Dept. of Community Medicine for their support.
REFERENCES
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