Socio-demographic characteristics of family planning clients and their possible influence on contraception in Malawi.

In a survey of family planning clients at the central Teaching Hospital, Blantyre, between July 1 and December 31, 1993, to determine their social, biological and reproductive profiles, contraceptive awareness and previous use, 766 new clients were recruited and interviewed by means of partially structured questionnaire. Their mean age was 27 years, with a range of 15-43 years. Adolescents formed 10.1% and those above 35 years of age were 17.1%. 91.3% were married. While 12.6% had no formal education, 29.7% had secondary school education and higher. Their mean parity and living children were 3.6 and 3.1 respectively. The mean desired fertility was 4.5. 93.3% of all clients had live births in their last pregnancies. Contraceptive awareness was quite high, about 98.0%. However, only 30.9% had ever-used contraceptives before then. When these are looked at against a background of the corresponding situations in the country, it appears that the individuals seeking, accepting and using contraceptives in Malawi, are better off in the various aspects of life, thus suggesting their possible influence on contraceptive use. There is need to review the national family planning programme, address the contraceptive needs of adolescents and women aged above 35 years, improve formal female education, change the prevailing socio-cultural and traditional beliefs and practices which affect women adversely, thus empowering them over affairs of their health.