Acceptability of Family Planning methods in women of slum areas: Difference between Hindus & Muslims

Introduction: Although India was the first country to start Family Planning Program in 1952, its acceptance is far from adequate. According to the National Family Planning Survey of India (1995), 78% of all conceptions are unplanned, 25% of these are unwanted. Its use varies within and between the societies. Many factors are responsible for these variations, like education, socioeconomic status, religion, secrecy, etc. Aims & Objective: 1. To find out the preference and its reason for the family planning methods among women 2. To identify if there is any difference between Hindu and Muslim women Study design: Prospective Randomized Cross Sectional study Material & method: The study was conducted on 300 married women who attended our postnatal clinic from Muslim dominated slum areas, between the ages of 15 to 40 years and have given birth to at least one child. The data was collected for family size, socio-economic status, educational status, religion of women, and preference for different family planning methods through interviews using semi structured questionnaires. Results: Majority of the women preferred temporary method especially after one or two children. Despite being new entrant as a contraceptive in the study population, acceptance rate of Injection Depot Medroxy Progesterone Acetate (DMPA) is almost twice than Intra Uterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD) in both Hindus and Muslims. Condoms are not popular because of non cooperation of spouses. Tubal Ligation, a permanent method, is last method of choice and four times more popular among Hindus, as Muslims avoid it for religious reasons.