Ignorance of family planning methods in India: an important constraint on use
Basu, A.M.
Studies in Family Planning 15(3): 136-142
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0039-3665 PMID: 6740730 DOI: 10.2307/1965464Document Number: 405871
Interviews with women in 6 villages in India and with educated, working women selected to be trained as interviewers and evidence from formal studies are discussed. Poor knowledge of family planning favors high fertility in India. The awareness and ever use of different birth control methods among married women, aged 15-49, are given. There is much ignorance and misinformation as shown by data on awareness of contraceptives in 1970 awareness of family planning methods among general responders and local leaders is also poor. Why is knowledge so low? Some reasons are socioeconomic development factors. Women reporting knowledge of various methods of contraception, by urban-rural residence and for urban sample, education and type of housing is given, as is of respondents who had heard of various contraceptive methods in Uttar Pradesh and Narangwal. Sterilization is fairly well accepted, however more knowledge is needed on reversible methods. The program needs to increase its level of IEC activities, and change the content of these activities by shifting the emphasis from why birth control is essential (most couples are now aware of the officially propagated advantages of small families) to how a small family can be achieved by methods less drastic than an operation.