To Assess the Hesitancy of Contraceptive Among Women of Reproductive Age Group (19-45 Years) at A Tertiary Care Hospital, Ranchi, Jharkhand

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the hesitancy of contraceptive among women of reproductive age group (19-45 years) at a tertiary care hospital, Ranchi, Jharkhand.

Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted at outdoor Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology department, Ranchi, Jharkhand. The duration of the study was 6 months. The participants were married females of the reproductive age group (19-45 years). 200 women were included in the study.

Results: A total of 160 (80%) were married and others were single 34 (17%), divorced 4 (2%), and separated, 2 (1%). The levels of education of the women were no formal education, 10 (5%), primary 34 (17%), secondary 96 (48%) and tertiary 60 (30%). 196 (98%) respondents had ever heard contraceptive before, while only 4 (2%) had not. The common contraceptives ever heard about by the women include male condom, natural methods, pills and injectables, IUCD with 198 (99%), 186 (93%), 180 (90%), 172 (86%) and 112 (56%) respectively. The number of women that said family planning commodities were readily available were 152 (76%) but 48 (24%) insist commodities were not readily available. Those that considered the family planning services out of reach suggest; health education 24 (50%), improved supplies 14 (29.16%) and reduction in prices 10 (20.84%) as possible ways to increase availability of the commodities. 140 (70%) women had ever used one form of contraceptive while 60 (30%) had never used any form of family planning.

Conclusion: There is a need to unravel why women refuse contraception for no reason. When such reasons are known, the women can be helped much better. As it is seen in this study, the awareness of modern family planning methods does not translate into use. There are a lot of obstacles to the use stemming from misconceptions. The campaigns for family planning services should aim at the misconceptions in order to drive the demand and remove the barriers.