Family Planning Practice Among Married Orang Asli Women in Sepang District and Its Associated Factors

Abstract@#Introduction: Family planning allows couples to have their desired number of children and optimum birth spacing. While the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) in Malaysia was reported as 52.2% in 2014, little is known regarding the practice of family planning among marginalised groups such as the Orang Asli women. This study aims to determine family planning practice among married Orang Asli women in Sepang district and its associated factors. Methods: A cross sectional study using a pretested questionnaire was conducted in five Orang Asli settlements in Sepang using cluster sampling. Chi-square test and simple logistic regression were used in bivariate analysis, whereas binary logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of family planning practice. Results: 212 (58.4%) participants were current users of family planning, with 68.3% of the users reported using oral contraceptive pills. In the logistic regression models, family planning practice was significantly more common among women who had children (AOR= 43.659, 95% CI: 5.788, 329.323), being housewives (AOR=1.973, 95% CI: 1.205, 3.230) and had higher attitude score (AOR=1.113, 95% CI: 1.006, 1.232). Conclusion: The CPR of current study was about the same as the national CPR in 2014. The predictors of family planning practice among Orang Asli women were having children, being a housewife and having a better attitude towards family planning. Future intervention to increase the CPR should focus on improving women’s attitude regarding family planning.

Knowledge of family planning and current use of contraceptive methods among currently married women in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Background: India was the first country to implement population policies, still after 63 years, it‟s far away from achieving low fertility rates. Fertility rates are directly associated with the use of family planning methods. Besides, the use of contraceptive methods amongst the currently married women is very low (49%) in India. Methods: Data have been extracted from NFHS 2005-06 for Uttar Pradesh. Cross-tabulation and multivariate analysis have been carried out to study the patterns of contraceptive methods and their determinants. Results: In Uttar Pradesh, CPR is very low (43%). Women from rural area are 32% (OR=0.681**) less likely to use contraception than urban women. Women‟s age is positively related with current use of contraceptives. The likelihood of using contraception is 46% (OR=0.549) lower among Muslims compared to Hindus. Women below middle school are 30% (OR= 1.302***) and women with middle complete are 67% (OR =1.669***) more likely to use the contraceptive methods than the illiterate women. Women belonging to low SLI are 44% (OR= 0.569*) less likely and with high SLI are 60% (OR =1.5999*) more likely to use contraception, than women belong to medium SLI. Women use more contraception with increasing parity. Among all the predictors women‟s education found to be the most important. Conclusions: There is a wide gap between knowledge and acceptance of contraceptives among currently married women in Uttar Pradesh. There is an urgent need to strengthen the awareness among currently married women so that ultimate aim of reducing fertility rates can be achieved.