1. Fertility Preferences , Contraceptive Use and Knowledge
among married women of reproductive age group of
Belhara V.D.C, Dhankuta.
Rayamajhi R.B , Ghimire A, Niraula S.R, Budhathoki S.S, Pokharel P.K.
School of Public Health and Community Medicine.
B.P.Koirala Institute of Health Sciences.

2. INTRODUCTION:
 WHO defines FAMILY PLANNING as :
“a way of thinking and living that is adopted voluntarily upon the basis of
knowledge, attitude and responsible decisions by the individuals and couples
in order to promote health and welfare to the family group and thus
contribute effectively to the social development of the country.”
 Contraceptive prevalence rate of Nepal in 2008/9 is 40.53%, out of which
male involvement is only 10.2%.
 As per the report published by the District Development Committee of the
Dhankuta-2066, only 31.08% (i.e. 9,081 of 29,222) of the couples have
adopted the means of the FP measures.
 It needs to be recognized that women, particularly in developing nations, are
often economically and emotionally dependent on their male partners .

3. Objectives:
 To assess the level of awareness and attitude regarding family
planning among the married reproductive aged women.
 To study the different family planning adopted for family planning.
 To assess the reason behind not practicing or discontinuing the use of
family planning measures.

4. Material and Methodology::
 Descriptive study was carried out in Belhara VDC, Dhankuta on 15th
– 27th May, 2011 as a part of Epidemiological Skills for Health
Management Posting.
 Convenience sampling was carried among the MRW residing in that
VDC with a sample size of 291.
 Semi structured questionnaire were used to collect the data by face to
face interview after a verbal consent.
 Frequency expressed in terms of percentage Pie-chart, Bar-diagram
used to represent data .

5. FIG.1: DISTRIBUTION OF AGE AMONG RESPONDENTS. (N=291)
AGE DISTRIBUTION OF RESPONDENTS:
38.76%
46.04%
17.18%
0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
30.00%
35.00%
40.00%
45.00%
50.00%
15-25 YEARS 16-35 YEARS 36-49 YEARS

6. FIG.2: DIVERSITY OF ETHNICITY AMONG MARRIED REPRODUCTIVE AGED WOMEN (N=291)
ETHNICITY DISTRIBUTION:
23%
23%
21.60%
15.10%
6.30%
11%
BHRAMIN
CHETTRI
RAI
TAMANG
LIMBU
OTHERS

7. FIG.3: EDUCATIONAL STATUS AMONG MARRIED REPRODUCTIVE AGED WOMEN
(N=291)
EDUCATIONAL STATUS OF RESPONDENTS :
38.40%
4.80%
36.80%
20%
ILLITERATE
INFORMAL
<SLC
>SLC

8. OCCUPATIONAL STATUS OF RESPONDENTS:
67.82%
22.15%
9.40%
0.63%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
HOUSEWIFE DAILY WAGE
WORKER
FOREIGN WORKER OFFICE WORKER
FIG 4: OCUPATIONAL STATUS AMONG MRW. (N=291)

9. KNOWLEDGE ABOUT FP METHODS AMONG RESPONDENTS:
91.70%
8.30%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
90.00%
100.00%
yes no
FIG.5: KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ANY OF THE FP METHODS AMONG MRW. (N=291)

10. KNOWLEDGE REGARDING PLACES WHERE FP METHODS ARE AVAILABLE:
198
179 172
156
128
76 69
12
0
50
100
150
200
250
FIG .6: PLACES WHERE FAMILY PLANNING METHODS ARE AVAILABLE.
(MULTIPLE ANSWERS).

11. DECISION REGARDING USE OF FP METHODS:
34.60%
31.63%
21.82%
6%
4%
1.95%
0.00%
5.00%
10.00%
15.00%
20.00%
25.00%
30.00%
35.00%
40.00%
HUSBAND BOTH HERSELF IN-LAWS PEERS OTHERS
FIG.7: DECISION REGARDING USE OF FP MEASURES. (N=291)

12. KNOWLEDGE REGARDING FREE AVAILABILITY OF CONTRACEPTIONS:
79.03%
20.96%
YES
NO
FIG.8: KNOWLEDGE AMONG MRW REGARDING FREE AVAILABILITY OF CONTRACEPTIONS. (N=291)

13. CONSULTATION WITH HUSBAND
ABOUT FP METHODS :
58.26%
41.74% YES
NO
72.87%
27.13%
00
YES
NO
FIG.9: CONSULTATION WITH HUSBAND BY MRW REGARDING USE OF FP METHODS. (N=291).
FIG.10 CONSULTATION WITH HEALTHCVARE PROFESSIONALS ABOUT FP METHODS. (N=291)
CONSULTATION WITH HEALTHVCARE
PROFESSIONALS ABOUT FP METHODS:

14. CURRENT USE OF ANY FP METHODS:
60.14%
39.86%
YES
NO
FIG.11: CURRENT USE OF FP METHODS AMONG MRW. (N=291)

15. INTEREST TO KNOW MORE ABOUT FP METHODS:
81.20%
18.20%
YES
NO
FIG.12: INTEREST AMONG FP NONUSERS MRW ABOUT FP
METHODS.(N=116)

16. PREFERRED FP METHOD AMONG MRW:
51.50%
23.50%
13.50%
6% 4.00% 1.50% 0% 0%
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
FIG.13: FP PREFERRED AMONG MRW. (N=291)

17. REASONS FOR NOT USING FP METHODS:
28%
26%
23%
12%
10%
1%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
FIG. 14: REASONS FOR NOT USING FP MEASURES AMONG NONUSERS MRW.

18. SEX PREFERENCES AMONG RESPONDENTS:
77%
13%
BOY
GIRL
FIG. 15: SEX PREFERENCES AMONG RESPONDENTS. (N=291)

19. Conclusion:
 91.7% of the MRW has knowledge regarding FP methods even then only
60.14% are using FP methods.
 39.86% of the respondents aren’t using FP methods even then 81.2%
showed interest to know more about it.
 Depo was the most popular FP method among MRW.
 Majority of the MRW don’t consult with the healthcare professionals
regarding the use of FP methods so good rapport build up and proper
counseling to the consumers should be promoted. Despite then, it’s good to
see that they do consult with their husband.

20. My sincere acknowledgement to Prof. Dr. Paras Kumar Pokharel, Chief
(SPH and CM ), Associate Prof. Dr. Anup Ghimire, Associate Prof. Dr.
Surya Raj Niraula, Dr. Shyam Sundar Budhathoki and all the students
involved in this study.