Comparative Study of Family Planing Practices Between Hindu and Islam (A case Study of Nepalgunj Municipality of Banke District)

Abstract

This study based on primary data, collected from 175 households in ward No. 6 of Nepalgunj Municipality: 85 households of Hindu and 90 households of Islam. Al together 175 married women of reproductive ages (15-49) were successfully interviewed. The main objective of this study is to examine knowledge, attitude and practices andtraditional value, religious restriction about family planning (FP) in two differentreligious groups, and to investigate the reasons for use and non-use of contraceptives married women. It is quite encouraging to know that 95.3 percent Hindu respondents have heard contraceptive devices whereas 87.8 percent Islam respondents have knowledge of contraceptive devices. Condom is the most popular method of contraceptives among Hindu and Sangini/Depo-Provera is the most popular method among Islam. About 44 percent Hindu and 22.6 percent Islam are currently using contraception.Among them 13 Hindu and 7 Islam have faced side effects in various way like irregularmenstruation, body pain, etc. Most of the Hindu and Islam visit hospital orhealth center for FP services. No onesaid that there is any traditional restriction to use family planning among Hindu whereas66.7 percent Islam respondent have said that there is traditional restriction to use family planning method. Among non-users of FP method, majority of Islam (77.8%) have said it is against their religion while majority of Hindu (33.3%) have said due to lack of knowledge.