Knowledge, attitude and practice of women towards family planning methods in tafila-jordan

Abstract EN

Objective: To assess women’s knowledge, practice, and attitude towards family planning methods, and the factors that could affect their use.

Methods: A total of 600 married women (44-60 years.) from Tafila city in the south of Jordan were interviewed and they filled a semi structured interview form consisting of demographic data, questions related to knowledge, attitude and practice of different contraception methods and factors affecting the use of these methods.

Results: About 88% of women had used contraception at some time.

About 67% of women showed positive attitude towards using a contraceptive method that was approved by the husband.

In contrast, 23% showed negative attitudes towards using a contraceptive.

38% were using contraception at the time of the study.

Five hundred and sixty (93%) women showed considerable knowledge about different methods of contraception.

Intrauterine contraceptive devices were the most commonly used (38%), followed by coitus interruptus (16%) and safe period (14%), respectively.

The intrauterine contraceptive device was found to be preferable by the younger, less educated women and those having two children, the reverse was true for oral contraceptive pills, and the cause of stopping contraception was to become pregnant.

The reason for using contraception was for spacing between births.

The mean duration of use was 2.89+1.44 years.

Around two thirds of women got their contraceptive means from family planning centers.

Conclusion: Women in Tafila city have considerable knowledge and positive attitudes towards contraception methods.