Awareness and practices of contraception among Pakistani women attending a tertiary care hospital.

Pakistan is one of the most populous nations in the world, with an annual growth rate of 2.8 and high total fertility rate, even among developing nations. The Pakistan Reproductive Health and Family Planning Survey highlighted the wide gap between knowledge (97%) and use of contraceptives (28%) among currently married women. Our actual need is to enhance contraceptive practice in our country. This study was designed to investigate contraceptive knowledge and practice in Pakistani women attending a tertiary care hospital. This questionnaire-based study was conducted at the Gynaecology Unit II of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan. A total of 204 married women of reproductive age were interviewed by a registrar to record their age, occupation, educational status, number of children, knowledge about contraceptive methods, source of the knowledge, attitudes and practices of contraception. About 57% of women were between 26 and 35 years of age, while 52% of men were between 31 and 40 years. Educational status of the majority of females was below matriculation (33%), while 34% males were above matriculation; 88% of females were housewives and less than 1% of men were out of work. Regarding the social status of couples, 64% were living on income less than 5000 rupees /month (about 60 pound sterling). Of the women, 67% were para 2-5; 68% had some sort of awareness regarding contraception. The main source of information was television (26%) and relatives (24%). The majority knew about the pill (68%) and IUCD (55%). Only 47% were using some sort of contraception. The most common method chosen was the barrier method (15%), followed by IUCD (10%) and the pill (10%). The least common methods were sterilisation (2%) and the rhythm method (2%); 85% of the women and 74% of the men in the study group had a positive attitude toward contraception. In order to improve contraceptive use in Pakistan we need to use multiple media sources to educate couples and their parents regarding contraceptive services, strengthen the perceptions that religion not only allows but also recommends family planning and to create awareness among women to have their rights and opinions about the size of family. The concept of differentiation between sons and daughters should be discouraged. In addition government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should organise groups to provide counselling and promotion of contraceptive services at the doorstep. We must act as a team to control our growth rate for economic stabilisation of the country and to raise the living standards of our people.