Socioeconomic Determinants of Reversible Contraceptive Choices: Insights from A Tertiary Care Experience in India
Keywords:
Contraceptive Awareness, Family Planning Counselling, Maternal Health Services, Reversible MethodsAbstract
Background and Objectives: Reversible contraceptive methods offer significant flexibility in family planning, yet their use remains relatively low in India, with a strong preference for permanent methods like sterilization. Socioeconomic factors, including education, income, and occupation, along with the availability of counselling, influence contraceptive choices. This study aims to evaluate the awareness, usage patterns, and future intentions regarding reversible contraception among women attending a tertiary care centre, and to explore the impact of these socioeconomic determinants on contraceptive decision-making.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, over six months, involving 150 women aged 15–49 years. Participants were selected by consecutive sampling. Data were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire covering socio-demographics, contraceptive awareness, usage patterns, and influencing factors. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.
Results: Among the 150 participants, 47.3% were primigravida and 52.7% multigravida, with 60.7% having previous LSCS. Awareness of condoms was universal (100%), while 48.7% and 51.3% were aware of DMPA injections and IUCDs respectively. Half of the women (50%) had not adopted any contraceptive method postpartum. Among users, DMPA injections (15.3%) were the most chosen method, followed by OCPs (14%) and Copper T (13.3%). Counselling significantly influenced future contraceptive intentions (p=0.021). In the three-month follow-up, among 34 participants, 79.4% reported satisfaction with their chosen method.
Conclusion: Although contraceptive awareness was high, the uptake of reversible methods was limited. Socioeconomic determinants and effective counselling played a pivotal role in shaping contraceptive choices. Strengthening targeted counselling efforts is essential to bridge the gap between awareness and adoption of reversible contraception.
Downloads
Metrics
References
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, International Institute for Population. Sciences (IIPS). National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). 2021.
Muttreja P, Singh S. Family planning in India: The way forward. Indian J Med Res [Internet]. 2018 Dec 1 [cited 2025 Apr 10];148(Suppl 1):S1. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6469373/
Stephenson R, Hennink M. Barriers to family planning service use among the urban poor in Pakistan. Asia-Pacific Popul J [Internet]. 2004 [cited 2025 Apr 10];19(2):5–26. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277877631_Barriers_to_family_planning_service_use_among_the_Urban_Poor_in_Pakistan
Jain AK, Winfrey W. Contribution of Contraceptive Discontinuation to Unintended Births in 36 Developing Countries. Stud Fam Plann [Internet]. 2017 Sep 1 [cited 2025 Apr 10];48(3):269–78. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28398595/
Reichhardt DC. Leveraging {Antenatal} {Care} with {Structured} {Contraceptive} {Counseling} to {Cultivate} {Knowledge} and {Acceptability} of {Postpartum} {Intrauterine} {Methods} [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 Apr 10]. Available from: https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/leveraging-antenatal-care-with-structured/docview/2435170806/se-2
Nations U. THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development [Internet]. Department of Economic and Social Affairs | Sustainable Development. 2015 [cited 2025 Apr 10]. Available from: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Sharma V, Mohan U, Das V, Awasthi S. Socio demographic determinants and knowledge, attitude, practice: survey of family planning. J Fam Med Prim care [Internet]. 2012 [cited 2025 Apr 10];1(1):43. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24479000/
MoHFW G. Government of India Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 2021.
Chaurasia AR. Contraceptive Use in India: A Data Mining Approach. Int J Popul Res [Internet]. 2014 Jan 1 [cited 2025 Apr 27];2014(1):821436. Available from: /doi/pdf/10.1155/2014/821436
Takyi A, Sato M, Adjabeng M, Smith C. Factors that influence modern contraceptive use among women aged 35 to 49 years and their male partners in Gomoa West District, Ghana: a qualitative study. Trop Med Health [Internet]. 2023 Dec 1 [cited 2025 Apr 27];51(1):40. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10398952/
Prusty RK. Use of contraceptives and unmet need for family planning among tribal women in India and selected hilly states. J Heal Popul Nutr [Internet]. 2014 [cited 2025 Apr 27];32(2):342–55. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25076671/
Banerjee AV, Duflo E, Glennerster R, Kothari D. Improving immunisation coverage in rural India: Clustered randomised controlled evaluation of immunisation campaigns with and without incentives. BMJ [Internet]. 2010 Jun 12 [cited 2025 Apr 27];340(7759):1291. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20478960/
Reena S, Dhirendra Kumar S, Radha J, Kumkum S, Neela S, Sushmita S, et al. Contraceptive knowledge attitude and practice (KAP) survey. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology of India. J Obs Gynecol India. 55(6):546–50.
Pegu B, Gaur B, Sharma N, Singh A. Knowledge, attitude and practices of contraception among married women. Int J Reprod Contraception, Obstet Gynecol [Internet]. 2014 [cited 2025 Apr 27];385–8. Available from: https://www.ijrcog.org/index.php/ijrcog/article/view/911
Sharma S, Sharma P. Reproductive health problems and their awareness among adolescent girls: a clinical study. Int J Reprod Contraception, Obstet Gynecol [Internet]. 2019 Sep 26 [cited 2025 Apr 27];8(10):3870–3. Available from: https://www.ijrcog.org/index.php/ijrcog/article/view/7292
Jain AK. The effect of female education on fertility: A simple explanation. Demography [Internet]. 1981 [cited 2025 Apr 27];18(4):577–95. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7308537/
Bradley Hilary Schwandt SE, Khan S, Schwandt HM. Levels, Trends, and Reasons for Contraceptive Discontinuation Recommended Citation [Internet]. 2009 [cited 2025 Apr 27]. Available from: www.measuredhs.com
Whitaker AK, Johnson LM, Harwood B, Chiappetta L, Creinin MD, Gold MA. Adolescent and young adult women’s knowledge of and attitudes toward the intrauterine device. Contraception [Internet]. 2008 Sep [cited 2025 Apr 27];78(3):211–7. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18692611/
B G. The influence of wives’ and husbands’ education levels on contraceptive method choice in Nepal, 1996-2006. Int Perspect Sex Reprod Health [Internet]. 2009 [cited 2025 Apr 27];35(4). Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20123651/
Ali MM, Cleland J, Shah IH. Causes and consequences of contraceptive discontinuation: evidence from 60 demographic and health surveys. 2012 [cited 2025 Apr 27]; Available from: http://www.who.int/about/
Acceptability and feasibility of immediate postpartum IUCD insertion in a tertiary care centre in Central India | International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology [Internet]. [cited 2025 Apr 27]. Available from: https://www.ijrcog.org/index.php/ijrcog/article/view/1837
Goyal A, Wadhwani R. Comparative study of IUCD inserted intracesarean and after vaginal delivery. Int J Reprod Contraception, Obstet Gynecol [Internet]. 2018 Apr 28 [cited 2025 Apr 27];7(5):2007–10. Available from: https://www.ijrcog.org/index.php/ijrcog/article/view/4669
.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
Terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
