A Study to Assess the Family Planning Practices Among the Married Women in the Reproductive Age Group (15-49 Years) of Selected Villages in Oachghat, Solan (HP) in 2016

Family planning is one of the basic human rights and necessary for better quality of life. There are a number of barriers that affects the family planning acceptance among the married women. Hence the current study was undertaken to assess the family planning practices among the married women in the reproductive age group (15- 49 years) of selected villages in Oachghat, Solan (HP) and to determine the barriers of family planning acceptance among them. A community based cross-sectional survey was conducted in selected villages of Oachghat Panchayat, Solan (H.P.) A house to house survey was carried out with a pre-tested research tool which consisted of two parts-Socio-demographic profile and Semi- structured Interview Schedule on family planning practices. During data collection, the written consent was taken from all the married women. A total of 211 respondents were interviewed. Descriptive (Frequency, %, mean, S.D.) and inferential statistics (chi-square) were used for data analysis. Findings of the study revealed that out of 211 married women, 81.5% had family planning practices. Tubectomy (48.3%) and condoms (22.3%) were the most common family planning methods. Males shared very little (2.8%) responsibility in permanent sterilization. Major responsibility for creating awareness regarding family planning practices was shared by Health worker of nearby Health Centers. Government sector was significant source for the utilization of permanent family planning services. Respondent's age, income per capita, total number of living children and age of the last child were significantly associated with family planning practices (p<0.05). Choice for the type of family planning method was found to be significantly associated with respondent's age, age at marriage, age at first pregnancy, respondent's education, spouse education, total number of living children and age of the last (p<0.05). 'Need not felt' (51.2%) and 'want to conceive' (23%) were the most common reasons for the non-acceptance of family planning practices. Nurses working in the community area and other health workers like ANMs and ASHAs should counsel the non-acceptors through personal contacts and demonstrate them about use of various contraceptives with the help of specimen, models, charts, posters and short video films. They should include males and other family decision makers such as mother-in-laws while counseling the women for family planning.