ABSTRACT
PIP: This survey, conducted between October 1989 and March 1990, to determine the knowledge, attitude, practice, and provision of family planning of a sample of 376 Kenyan medical doctors, reports on the aspects of knowledge of family planning (FP) methods. Kenyan medical doctors had low-to-average knowledge of the association between oral contraceptives (OCs) and the risk of various medical conditions and the mechanism of action of steroidal contraceptives. Their knowledge of the effectiveness of various program methods was average to high. There was a linear relationship between monthly income and knowledge of effectiveness of OCs, according to which physicians earning more had less knowledge than their colleagues who earned less (Z = 2.318, p = 0.02). A stepwise unconditional logistic regression model showed that two variables, department where most work is performed and sex, are significantly associated with better knowledge. Use of these operational variables for assessing medical doctors' knowledge of FP methods gave a better resolution of the extent and perhaps the quality of counseling and advice they provided to their FP clients. At the same time, the need for update courses in FP for medical doctors is unquestionable and long overdue.^ieng
Subject(s)
Contraception , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Knowledge , Physicians , Statistics as Topic , Africa , Africa South of the Sahara , Africa, Eastern , Data Collection , Delivery of Health Care , Developing Countries , Family Planning Services , Health , Health Personnel , Kenya , Research , Sampling StudiesABSTRACT
PIP: This was part of a survey conducted between November 1989 and March 1990 to determine the knowledge, attitude, practice, and provision of family planning (FP) by a sample of Kenyan medical doctors. This part of the survey reports on the attitude as assessed through several attitudinal variables. Medical doctors had an average-to-high (60-98%) positive attitude about the relationship between population/economic growth and the need for FP, the effectiveness of the FP campaign in Kenya, and the ideal family size being 0-4 children. However, the proportion of doctors who considered the ideal family size to be 0-2 children dropped to a mere 23%. In light of the 1993 Kenyan total fertility rate of 5.4, an ideal family size of 0-4 children would be a worthwhile ambition for Kenyans, the majority of whom are of low socioeconomic status. Important covariates were future fertility intentions (desire for children), doctors' place of work, and religion. It is very important that the FP campaign continue to promote small families in Kenya.^ieng
