Knowledge and practice of family planning and factors associated with use of contraception in a rural area of Bangladesh

INTRODUCTION:  Bangladesh is a densely populated developing country with declining land man ratio, improper distribution of land and wealth. Population problem which was regarded once as number one national problem has lost its focus during the last decades, which demand immediate attention. 

METHODS: A community based cross sectional study was conducted to find out knowledge and practice of family planning and barriers to use of contraception among 680 eligible couples in a rural area of Bangladesh. Cluster sampling technique was used. Any married women of child bearing age who live with their husband at time of study and have at least one live child were considered as the respondents.

RESULTS:  Among eligible couples 68.2% currently use a modern method of contraception and 12.8% were past users. Feeling physical problem was an important reason for discontinuation (47.7%), whereas 25.9% of current users encountered physical problem. Most of the respondents use oral contraceptives (71%). Only 9.3% use condom and 5.3% use permanent method. Almost ninety percent (89.1%) respondents had knowledge of family planning methods and heath workers were the main source of information (47.2%). Among socio-demographic variables average monthly family income, age of respondent and husband, literacy of respondent and parity was found important predictors of contraceptive use. Ability to listen to radio (OR 1.54), ability to go health care facility alone (OR 2.01), whether permission needed to go to market (OR 1.53) and knowledge of family planning (OR 14.65) were important positive predictors & feeling physical problem (OR 2.01) was negative predictor of contraceptive use. Desire to conceive, self opposition (do not like family planning) and lack of knowledge of family planning method or service were important barriers of contraceptive use.

CONCLUSIONS:  Barriers of contraceptive use and reason for its discontinuation should be addressed. Plan needed to ensure proper knowledge of modern family planning method and service for effective control of population burden.