Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences

Published by : PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PUBLICATIONS

ISSN 1681-715X

HOME   |   SEARCH   |   CURRENT ISSUE   |   PAST ISSUES

-

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

-

Volume 24

July - September 2008

Number  4


 

Full Text
PDF of this Article

Awareness and pattern of utilizing family planning services
among women attending Urban Health Care Center
Azizabad Sukkur

Naseem Aftab Shah1, Nighat Nisar2, Majid Hafeez Qadri3

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To assess level of awareness and pattern of utilizing family planning services among women (15-49 years) of reproductive age at Urban Health Center, Azizabad Sukkur, Sindh.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June 2005 at Urban Health Care Center Azizabad Sukkur. Two hundred women of reproductive age group were interviewed by using a pre tested semi structured questionnaire visiting the health care center during the study period. Information was obtained after taking informed consent regarding socio demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and pattern of utilizing family planning services. The data was entered and analyzed by using statistical package SPSS version 13.

Results: About 75% of women and 42.5% husbands were found illiterate, 85% women were housewives, 69.5% were married before18 years of age and 54% had nuclear family. Regarding desired number of children women responded one child (3%), 2-3 children (11%), 4-5 (37.5%), more than five children (36%), 5.5% said that children are God gifted and 7% did not answer. About 60% of women reported use of at least one contraceptive method and 40% had never used any contraceptive method. The women who received counseling from the health care provider were 48.5% and only 6% received information through media. Religious prohibition, shortage of female staff and cost of family planning contraceptive methods were the main reasons identified for not utilizing contraceptive methods. The unsatisfactory variables were long waiting hours at the center, non-availability of contraceptive, shortage of the female staff and cost.

Conclusion: Limited number of women was aware and practice contraception in the area and utilization of family planning services were low. The efforts should be made for providing information to couple and improving quality of family planning services in the area.

KEY WORDS: Birth spacing, Family planning, Contraceptives.

Pak J Med Sci    July - September 2008    Vol. 24 No. 4    550-555

How to cite this article:

Shah NA, Nisar N, Qadri MH. Awareness and pattern of utilizing family planning services among women attending Urban Health Care Center Azizabad Sukkur. Pak J Med Sci 2008;24(4): 550-5.


1. Dr. Naseem Aftab Shah,
Senior Medical Officer,
Urban Health Care Center Azizabad, Sukkur
2. Dr. Nighat Nisar,
Associate Professor & Head,
Community Medicine Department SMC,
Dow University of Health Sciences,
3. Dr. Majid Hafeez Qadri,
Assistant Professor,
Community Medicine Department,
Baqai Medical University,
Karachi - Pakistan.

Correspondence

Dr. Nighat Nisar,
3-G, 6/3, Nazimabad No-3,
Karachi- 18,
Post Code: 74600,
Karachi - Pakistan.
E-mail: nisarnighat@hotmail.com

* Received for Publication: January 25, 2008
* Accepted: June 16, 2008



HOME   |   SEARCH   |   CURRENT ISSUE   |   PAST ISSUES

Professional Medical Publications
Room No. 522, 5th Floor, Panorama Centre
Building No. 2, P.O. Box 8766, Saddar, Karachi - Pakistan.
Phones : 5688791, 5689285 Fax : 5689860
pjms@pjms.com.pk