FAMILY PLANNING KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE AMONG POSTNATAL WOMEN IN A TERITIARY CARE CENTER

Background: Family planning methods prevent pregnancy-related health risks for women. Aims and Objectives: The study aims to describe the socio demographic profile, knowledge, awareness, source of information, and utilization of various family planning methods among postnatal women who delivered in a kurnool Government general hospital(teritiary care center) Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, kurnool Medical College and Hospital, kurnool,ANDHRA PRADESH over a period of 6 month from june 1,2022 to , December 30,2022. •After obtaining informed verbal consent, a predesigned standardized questionnaire was given to 500 postnatal mothers who delivered in the institution either by vaginal or by caesarean section. Data on socio demographic profile, knowledge, awareness of various family planning methods, source of information, utilization, and reasons for non-use were collected and statistical analysis was done using MS Excel. Results were expressed in terms of numbers and percentage. Result: Only 412 (82.4%) of the respondents had heard about family planning. About 65.7% of respondents have good knowledge, 34.3% have poor knowledge. Out of 500 respondents 349 (69.8%) have positive attitude towards contractive and the remaining 151 (30.2%) had negative attitude. Out of 500 respondents 152(30.4%) of respondents had a safe practice and the remaining 348 (69.6%) were unsafe practice towards contraceptive use. Conclusion: In our study •it is evident 65.7% had good knowledge regarding family planning methods•Regarding attitude gender bias having male is anasset to family having female child is curse.•This attitude has to be overcome by proper education, counseling to the elligible couple and community by health care professional•By this we can impart knowledge, practice regarding family planning methods.