Acceptance and Knowledge of Family Planning Among Muslim Women in Rural Villages of Kelantan

Abstract

I In nt tr ro od du uc ct ti io on n T he population structure of rural areas in Malaysia is shaped like a pyramid with the base, or largest portion, representing children and the top, or smallest portion, representing the elderly. 1 Malaysia is still considered a developing country.Family planning programs in Malaysia were introduced in the 1930s and have expanded to reduce the crude birth rate to 21.7/1000 in 2002. 2 Government, nongovernmental agencies, private hospitals, and clinics play a major role in providing such services.In 2002, the Ministry of Health provided 75.8% of the family planning services, nongovernment agencies provided 15.1%, and other agencies provided the remaining percentage. 3 Women consenting to family planning programs in Malaysia used birth control pills, condoms, and intrauterine