Family planning methods knowledge-attitude and practice among males and females in reproductive age in Al-Mukalla district

Abstract EN

Background : Each year, over half a million women die of complications of pregnancy, child bearing or unsafe abortion, the vast majority in developing countries, Significant proportion of these deaths could be avoided through the effective use of family planning, Family planning is recognized as among the 4 core components of safe motherhood.

Objective : identify the knowledge, attitude and practice among males and females in reproductive age to ward family planning methods in AL-Mukalla district.

Material : a total of 600 male and female, in reproductive age living in AL-Mukalla district were interviewed about their knowledge, attitude and practice of family planning, Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in AL-Mukalla district, 2012, using self-administered questionnaires.

Results : About 3.5 % of respondents were illiterate, there knowledge (89,5 %) for traditional methods (99.3 %) was more than modern methods and approval (67 %) about family planning methods.

the females mostly preferred IUCD (16,7 %) and males preferred women use pills 17.5 %, The most common source of family planning information was Midwives and nurses, closely followed by doctors, the believes toward the benefits of family planning, males were more than females (32.2 %-14 % respectively) includes child spacing between pregnancies prevention of pregnancy, delay of pregnancy and.

(37.5 % males and 47 % females) were believes FPMs cause psychological upset, sterility (33.6 % males and 25.4 % females), followed by change in the body function and other problems (cancer, irregularity of the cycle).

the Previous usage of family planning methods was 33 %, at the time of this study the usage of family planning methods was (29.83 %) the most common is modern (66.8 %) the common was IUCD (40.2 %) the most common reason for non-practice of family planning was the side effect followed by religious un approval.

Conclusion : the intensive targeted information, education and communication (IEC) program, and efforts should move at increasing the awareness of family planning on women toward modern methods.