Vivin Vincent1, Suganthi Selvarajan2
The family planning programme in the world was first launched by India in 1952 in order to reduce the population growth in the country. India currently faces a vicious cycle of population explosion and poverty. In the above context, this study was conducted so as to learn about the different family planning methods practicing in a rural area of Chidambaram and also to find out any unmet need of family planning which is one of the most important factor that causes hindrance in the success of national family planning programme.
OBJECTIVES
To find out the proportion of eligible couples practicing any of the family planning methods, both temporary and permanent, the different types and the unmet needs of family planning practices along with the factors associated with unwillingness of acceptance of family planning methods among these eligible couples.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
It is a cross-sectional study done in 125 eligible couples of 700 families of Omakkulam and Sengattan areas of Chidambaram. Data collected were coded and entered in Microsoft Excel sheet and was analysed using Epi info statistical software.
RESULTS
The proportion of eligible couples in this study population of 700 families was 18% (125). The proportion of eligible couples practicing family planning methods were 42% and 58% had not adopted any methods. Different types of family planning methods adopted by the eligible couples in this study were Vasectomy (1.89%), PPS (15.09%), CuT (18.87%), OCP (20.76%) and Condoms (43.39%). Reasons for non-acceptance of family planning methods among the eligible couples were Hysterectomy (2.78%), Infertility (6.95%), Infection and bleeding (11.11%), Recently married (13.89%), No specific reason (29.16%) and Family not complete (36.11%). In this study, 20% of eligible couples had unmet needs of family planning methods.
CONCLUSION
This study shows there is still a gap in the acceptance of family planning methods by the eligible couples of this study population. The study reveals the need for considerable improvement in adopting family planning methods by the eligible couples.
