INTRODUCTION

Family planning is crucial to manage population growth, reduce resource pressure, and enhance the quality of life while also promoting gender equality and improving educational options. While Saudi Arabia's birth rate has declined, it remains high compared to high-income countries. Effective contraception reduces unintended pregnancies and associated maternal health risks. The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to contraceptive methods among childbearing women in the Al-Ahsa region, Saudi Arabia, in 2025.

METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in 2025 among childbearing women residing in the Al-Ahsa region, Saudi Arabia. A convenience sampling yielded 392 participants. The data were collected using a pretested, validated online questionnaire and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences software for Windows, version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied, with a p value of ≤0.05 considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

This study included 392 Saudi women with a mean age of 33.52 (±8.94) years. Nearly half of them (49.7%) held a bachelor's degree, and 33.4% were employed. Most of the participants (90.3%) had heard of contraception, with 50.3% identifying it as a method of family planning and 45.2% as a way to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Regarding awareness of contraceptive methods, oral contraceptive pills (OCPs; 82.9%) and male condoms (70.7%) were the most recognized. Regarding attitude toward contraception usage, more than half (52.3%) believed that contraceptives are harmful, while 22.2% viewed contraception as useful. More than one-third of responders (37.5%) reported using contraception, with the most common reason being prevention of unplanned pregnancy (33.4%). OCPs and male condoms were the most used methods (12.5% and 12.8%, respectively). Contraceptive use was more prevalent among women aged 26-35 years, those married for three to five years, and those with multiple pregnancies or children.

CONCLUSION

Although awareness of contraception was high among participants, misconceptions and negative perceptions regarding its safety persist. To enhance contraception use, it is crucial to address prevailing negative attitudes through targeted public health campaigns that debunk myths and promote the benefits of contraception.