Contraceptive prevalence rate in women of reproductive age in a semi urban community of Islamabad

Objective: To determine the prevalence of utilization of family planning methods among married women of reproductive age in a semi urban community of Islamabad. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was done using two stage sampling, including cluster and consecutive sampling techniques. A proportionate sample from each mohallas of Nurpur Shahan was taken to achieve our sample size. All married women of the reproductive age group (15-45 years) living with their husbands, not diagnosed as a case of infertility and permanent residents of Nurpur Shahan were included. Results: Total of 550 women were included in the study with mean age of 31.64 years. Majority of women 497 (94.7%) were currently married while 322 (59.9 %) were literate. Of all the women, 72 (13.2%) women were currently pregnant and only 62 (11.3%) had a planned pregnancy. Induced abortion was practiced once by 9 (1.8%) women and 21 (4.1%) had done it twice. 394 (72.8%) had knowledge of family planning methods and only 102 (19.5%) women were using family Planning methods currently. Conclusion: Miscellaneous challenges are involved to increase involvement of the women and their families in the use of family planning services. Health education campaigns at community level to increase awareness regarding different family planning methods are highly needed. Government needs to improve the LHWs services to increase the use of family planning methods and combat induced abortions as a method of contraception. Controlling population through sterilization after attaining a large family size should not be the preferred method of family Planning.