Family planning practices among tribals of South Rajasthan, India
Sharma, V.; Sharma, A.
Journal of Research and Education in Indian Medicine 10(4): 5-9
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0970-7700 PMID: 12346802 Document Number: 332062
The objective was to examine the practices of family size limitation among tribal people of South Rajasthan and traditional methods of contraception used by them. The study was conducted in 4 tribal blocks of Udaipur District (Badgaon, Girwa, Jhadol [Falasia], and Kherwada), selected by simple random sampling. 250 eligible couples (with wives in the age group 15-44 years) were included. They were analyzed with reference to elementary knowledge about modern family planning methods; practice of family planning and contraception; and sexual and child rearing practices. The couples were interviewed by means of a pretested detailed questionnaire. A large number of primitive societies still follow traditional customs of sexual behavior and child rearing. The methods accepted by them appear to be those that have some monetary incentives attached to them, e.g., vasectomy and tubectomy. There also seemed to be a significant KAP gap or credibility gap between their knowledge and actual practice of contraception. While 60.8% of the couples possessed some knowledge about at least one modern method of contraception, only 19% of them were using a modern method of family planning, and that irregularly. A small percentage were also found to be practicing both traditional and modern methods together (6.8%), while 11.2% of couples relied entirely on traditional methods for limiting family size. In all, about 25.4% of the tribal couples were using some form of family planning. Tribal women also used vaginal douches postcoitally for contraception. A small number of tribal women also described a sort of vaginal sponge soaked in various solutions. The practice of extended breastfeeding was universal among the tribal people. Similarly, the practice of observing total abstinence for certain days of the month and for a period of 2-3 months following delivery also bolstered family planning.