Family Planning: Its Perception and Determinants among Eligible Couple

A cross sectional study was conducted in Imphal east district, Manipur; to assess perceptions and determinants of family planning, their relationship and to estimate the couple protection rate during September 2007 to August 2008. Nearly one-fifth of the couples use any method and only 8.73% use modern approved methods of family planning. Cu-T and OCPs were the most frequently used methods of contraception by the young. A significant variation of opinion regarding the inhibition of family planning by religion was observed among husbands and wives. Over half of the husbands disapproved to use any family planning method and similar pattern was observed in case of wives too. 13.21% and 18.18% approved temporary methods while 6.18% and 11.88% permanent methods of family planning by husbands and wives respectively. In logistic regression analysis it was revealed that one year increase in age, there was a likelihood of wife having 1.048 fold more chances of practicing family planing methods, other than housewife had 1.277 fold and improvement of literacy status of wife from illiterate to literate had 3 fold more chances of adopting it.