A PROFILE OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF CONTRACEPTION AMONG EDUCATED WORKING WOMEN OF SOUTH INDIA

BACKGROUND: Family planning is the key that help the individuals or couples to avoid unwanted births, to regulate the interval between pregnancies, control the time at which birth occurs in relation to the age of parents and determines the number of children in the family. OBJECTIVES: 1) To investigate the knowledge and practice of contraceptive methods among the educated working women. 2) To assess women's knowledge, attitude and practice in relation to emergency contraception. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted in 122 respondents among the educated working women in Guntur. Women in the reproductive age group (18-49 years) were interviewed by administering a pretested mixed questionnaire containing open and closed ended questions after taking an informed consent. The collected data was compiled, processed and analyzed. RESULTS: Out of 122 women, 115(94.26%) were aware of contraceptive methods. Of 103 married women 82 women (79.61%) practiced contraception. A total of 33.98% (35) and 57.28% (59) of the women practiced temporary and permanent methods respectively. The major source of information is electronic and print media 55.65% followed by medical literature 31.30%. Out of 122 women, 38 women (31.14%) were aware of emergency contraception and only 3 women (2.45%) practiced emergency contraception. CONCLUSIONS: Awareness and usage of contraception was high in this educated working-women population. Permanent method was more preferred than temporary methods. However, a low percentage of women were aware of emergency contraception. Hence, programs must be implemented to create more awareness on Emergency contraception.