A Study to evaluate the factors influencing on Family planning practices among urban married women in Bangalore

Introduction: Family planning is one of the fundamental pillars of safe motherhood and a reproductive right.The practice of family planning is influenced by socio-demographic factors, hence its variation between regions of the world and countries.It is pertinent to reposition family planning to accelerate the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality in less developed countries.Aim:To evaluate the factors influencing the family planning practices among married women.Study Design: It is a community based cross-sectional study.Study Area: Urban area of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Medical College.Study Population: Married women in the reproductive age group of 15-45 years.Materials And Methods: 300 married women in the urban area of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Medical College were interviewed and examined using a pre-tested and semi-structured questionnaire after obtaining informed oral consent.Married women were interviewed with respect to the socio economic status, educational status, age at marriage, married life, total number of children, usage of contraceptive methods, reasons for non usage.Results:35.35%were aged between 25-29 years of age.59% were Hindus, 35.3%were Muslims and 5.7% were Christians.71.7% were belonging to Nuclear families.51.3% had secondary level of education.84% of women were housewives and were belonging to Class III (lower middle) socio-economic status.36.66% had two living children Conclusion: 58.6% were currently using contraception.71.59% had undergone Tubectomy and none were found who had adopted Vasectomy.. Reasons for not using contraception for 56.48% was desire for more Children, 20.16% as need not felt, 10.48% as against religion and misconception about contraception and 0.80% as mother in law opposition, lack of information and fear of side effects.92.2% had negative opinion towards male sterilization and 57.4% gave reason for negative opinion as weakness will develop in males following male sterilization.