A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ON FAMILY PLANNING PRACTICES AND ITS DETERMINANTS IN A RURAL AREA OF CENTRAL KERALA

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Unregulated fertility leads to population explosion. Family planning helps in regulating fertility which in turn is essential for the proper utilization of the socioeconomic resources for the development of any nation. The success of any family planning programme lies in assessing how many are availing the services available and also the unmet need of family planning. Adequate attention to family planning can not only reduce poverty and hunger in countries with high birth rates but also avert maternal and childhood deaths.

OBJECTIVE: The study aims to analyze the contraceptive usage of Chelikuzhy locality of Pathanamthitta district, Central Kerala over the years and the choices of different family planning methods in the locality.

METHODOLOGY: A sample of 200 eligible couples from Chelikuzhy, Pathanamthitta participated in the study. A semi structured, pre-validated questionnaire was used to analyze the contraceptive prevalence among couples.

RESULT: There was a significant association between education, age & type of contraception used. There was also a significant association between marital history, source of information and unmet need of family planning.

CONCLUSION: When compared to similar studies done elsewhere on a study population with common denominator our study population proved to show minimal unmet need of family planning owing to the high literacy rates and far advancement in medical arena.