A STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE & PRACTICE OF FAMILY PLANNING METHODS AMONG ANTENATAL WOMEN OF ANDHRA PRADESH

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge and attitude regarding family planning and the practice of contraceptives among Antenatal women attending OPD and to determine the prevalence of unintended pregnancy among them. METHOD: A cross sectional descriptive study was done in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Andhra Medical College Visakhapatnam which is a tertiary center for three districts Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram, and Srikakulam. 499 antenatal women attending the OPD were included in the study. Their knowledge, attitude and practice on contraceptives were evaluated with the help of a predesigned questionnaire. RESULTS: Overall awareness of permanent methods of family planning 96.3% and that of temporary methods is only 62.9% (314). 69.9% of women became aware of contraceptive method, by obtaining information from relatives and friends and 23.2% from media (television). 42.1% are of the opinion that these contraceptive methods are available in the medical shops and only 13% know that they are available in the government hospitals. 99.8% are aware of female sterilization, and 92.8% are aware of vasectomy. But awareness of temporary methods is very poor. CONCLUSION: The study highlights that knowledge and awareness doesn't always lead to the use of contraceptives. There is still a need to educate and motivate the couples and improve family planning services to achieve more effective and appropriate use of contraceptives and to arrest the trend towards increase in population.