A knowledge, attitude and practice study on awareness and acceptance of contraception in postpartum women in a tertiary care hospital

Background: India was the first country in the world to launch National Family Planning Programme in 1951. This was first step taken to stabilize population, but still lag behind in limiting family size and practicing contraceptive use. 55 million unintended pregnancies occur every year in developing countries due to no contraception use. 25 million pregnancies occur due to inconsistent or incorrect use of contraception method and contraception failure. The reason for promotion of family planning services to increase inter-pregnancy interval, birth spacing or to delay conception after birth by this method we can achieve optimum maternal and child outcome. This study was conducted to assess knowledge, awareness and acceptance about contraceptive methods during postpartum period.Methods: A prospective observational questionnaire based study in which 500 postpartum women belongs to 15 to 45 years age group was interviewed with informed verbal consent. This was KAP study regarding socio-demographic profile, awareness and acceptance of contraceptive method in postpartum period or during inter-pregnancy and factors affecting its use.Results: Statistical analysis of univariate and bivariate data done by using chi-square test and percentage (%). Out of 500 postpartum women, 46% women reported that they did not use any contraceptive method before. There was a significant association between contraceptive use with religion and education status (p=0.000, p=0.042 respectively). 62% obtained information from health professional (doctor/nurse), 23.8% obtained information from husband 44.4% of postpartum women implied that they would use contraceptive. Barrier method is the most preferred method (40.1%) of contraception.Conclusions: To improve maternal and child outcome, health professionals should be more focused to encourage effective and high quality contraceptive counseling during antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum period