Awareness and Practice of Married Women regarding Natural Methods of Family Planning in Illam District of Nepal

Abstract

This cross- sectional study intends to assess the awareness and practice of married women towards natural method of family planning of Illam district in Nepal. In this study self-admin­istrated questionnaire was used as a tool of data collection. The study revealed that only 64.3 percent of respondent were heard about Natural Family Planning Method (NFPM) which was withdrawal method. Out of total, 60 percent had never practice on NFPM that is withdrawal method which they found easy to use and no side-effects. There was no association between ethnicity, religion, occupation and use of NFPM. Age was found significantly associated with the practice of NFPM. Likewise the age of marriage and number of children was found to be significantly associated with awareness and practice on NFPM at the 95% of confidence interval. The awareness and use of contraceptive among married women of Illam district was found very low therefore campaigns should be conducted in communities to raise awareness and practice on NFPM methods among both the illiterate and literates to reduce large family size and overpopulation that hinder the economic growth of any country.