JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

Abstract

Background: Family planning allows couples to determine and ascertain the desired number of children as well as the spacing of their births. It has a direct impact on health, wealth and well-being of people. Contraceptive use not only decreases unintended pregnancies but also reduces IMR, MMR and morbidity. Family planning is still a step back role in preventing population growth. Aims: To develop a health education pamphlet based on the knowledge of postnatal mothers on Family Planning methods. Setting: A Rural tertiary level medical college Hospital and a descriptive research design. Material and Methods: With descriptive research design, using purposive sampling technique 150 postnatal mothers were assessed for knowledge and factors affecting the usage of family planning methods. Based on their knowledge, a health education pamphlet was prepared and distributed to all the postnatal mothers. Results: Majority, 104 (69.3%) of postnatal mothers had poor knowledge, 40(26.7%) of them had average knowledge and only 6 (4%) of them had good knowledge score on family planning methods. There was a statistically significant association of knowledge score with parity, education and place of residence. Conclusions: Awareness regarding family planning among postnatal mothers was poor. Hence health care workers should focus on educating the mothers regarding family planning methods and who in turn will educate the family and society.

Key-words: Knowledge, Family planning, Family planning methods, Post natal mothers, health education pamphlet