Knowledge and Use of Contraception in Madhesi Community (A Comparative Study of Hindu and Islam Women In Ramgram Municipality, Nawalparasi District)
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Department of Population Studies
Abstract
Family Planning is the major component of reproductive health. It can save human
lives by controlling unwanted pregnancy, limiting the number of birth, living to
the healthiest age, avoid unsafe abortion, preventing transmission of sexual
transmitted disease in one hand and on the other hand it directly controls fertility
and population growth.
This study based on primary data, collected from 120 households in ward no. 3 of
Ramgram Municipality, 64 households of Hindu and 56 households of Islam.
Altogether 120 married women of reproductive ages (15-49) were successfully
interviewed. The main objective of this study is to examine knowledge, attitude
and practices and traditional value, religious restriction about family planning in
two different religious groups.
Among the Islam respondents, 57.1 percent's of occupation is housewife and 53.1
percent Hindu respondent have their main occupation is agriculture. More than 52
percent Islam and 50 percent of Hindu respondent annual income of household is
more than Rs. 20,000. The mean age at marriage of both religious respondent is 15
year.
It is quite encouraging to know that cent percent Hindu respondents have heard
contraception devices where as 87.5 percent Islam respondents have knowledge of
contraceptive devices. Condom is the most popular method of contraceptives
among Hindu and Pill, Sterilization is the most popular method among Islam.
About one in five (21.4 percent) Islam and three in five (60.9 percent) Hindu
Women are currently using contraception. Among them 6 Islam and 11 Hindu
have faced side effects in various way like Headache, weakness etc.
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Most of the Hindu and Islam visit Health Center or Hospital for FP services. No
one said that there is any traditional restriction to use family planning among
Hindu where as 71.4 percent Islam respondent have said that there is religious
restriction to use family planning method. Among non-users of FP method
majority of Islam (73.2%) have said it is against religious restriction and husband
discourage. While majority of Hindu (29.6%) have said husband discourage.