Fertility Pattern and Family Planning Practices in a Rural Area in Dakshina Kannada

Abstract

Research question: What is the fertility pattern among rural community and what are the factors influencing most common methods of contraception? Objective: To find out the distribution of family planning practices with respect to socio-demographic factors like religion income and Mother s literacy status. Study design: Cross-sectional. Setting: A rural community of Asaigoli village 20 kms. from Mangalore taluk of Dakshina Kannada. Study Population: Married women in the age group 15-49 years living with their spouses who were residents of Asaigoli. Study variables: Socio-demographic variables like religion income family type and mothers literacy number of living children and contraception use. Statistical analysis: Chi-square test. Results: Seventy one percent of women with 3 or more children were acceptors of permanent methods of contraception. Couple protection rate was 28%. Non-acceptors of family planning methods were higher among the Muslims. Education level of the respondents was not influencing the acceptance of family planning methods. Conclusion: Couple protection rate is poor indicator of fertility measures. (authors)