Knowledge and Utilization of Family Planning Services Among Limbus A Study of Chhatedhunga VDC of Tehrathum District

Abstract

The study on "Knowledge and utilization of family planning services among Limbus" has been carried out using primary sources of data obtained from 90 household of the currently married women aged 15-49 years. This study was conducted at Chhatedhunga Village Development Committee of Tehrathum district in February 2006. The main objectives of the research study as follows:  To examine the knowledge of family planning methods and education of women. To examine the knowledge of FP and age at marriage. To evaluate current use of family planning methods and number of living sons. To examine future demand of family planning method according to their CEB. Frequency tables, percent distribution and cross tables are used to describe socio-economic and demographic status of currently married woman. Similarly, Gamma coefficient are used to examine association among dependent and independent variables, or in other words hypothesis tested by using Gamma coefficient. The main findings of the study are as follows: Out of total 90 respondents the majority of Kirat religion as followed Hindu (60% & 36%) were in the study area. Most of the currently married women (71.1%) literate where as 28.9 percent only illiterate. Out of 90 respondents 48.9 percent have cash annual income range between Rs.4001- 10000 whereas nearly 28 percent have above Rs.10001 and 23.3 percent have belowRs.4000.  The majority of respondent (96.7%) were land holder and only 3.3 percent were landless. The highest percentage (22.2%) of currently married women were age 30-34 year and the lowest in age group 15-19 years (7.8%). The majority of women have one son (37.8%) and two daughters (21.1%). Most of the currently married women desired one daughter and two sons (70% vs. 73.3%). Out of 90 respondents, more than 43 percent had married at the age of 19-20 years, 30 percent above age 20 years and 27 percent had married before the 18 years. The result of the knowledge about contraceptives in the study area was found less than national level. Among the currently married women about 89 percent were familiar with at least one contraceptive method.  The knowledge about pills was cent percent among the currently married women (100%)and less percent of currently married women have heard about safe period (35%).  The knowledge of family planning method was universal in the age groups 15-19 and 45-49 years.  Out of 80 currently married women 26.2 percent were ever users and 53 percent were current users for at least one contraceptives method.  There was positive relationship between current use of family planning method and socio-demographic factors like literate women, number of children ever born and number of living son.  The majority of women (93%) were discussed about contraception when they used methods. Out of 80 respondents nearly 76 percent were intended to use the family planning method in the future. The future demand of Depo-Provera was high (27.4%) than other smethods.