Prevalence and pattern of contraceptive use and unmet need among women of reproductive age in urban Mysuru

Background: Uncontrolled population growth is an ongoing global concern. Rapid population growth contributes not only to the incidence of poverty but also to the transmission of poverty across generations. Adoption of family planning is crucial to limiting the unsustainable growth of the population. Although family planning services are offered free of cost, the acceptance of contraceptive methods shows wide regional variations. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and pattern of contraceptive usage and to determine the magnitude of unmet need among the married women of reproductive age in an urban area of Mysuru. Material and methods: A community based Cross-Sectional study was carried out among 457 married women in the reproductive age group. House to house survey was conducted and data was collected by interview method using a pre-tested, semi-structured proforma after obtaining informed consent. Data was coded and entered into MS Excel 2016 and analysed. Results: The prevalence of contraceptive use was found to be 55.1%. The most common contraceptive used was the terminal method of tubectomy. Male Condom was the most common temporary method of contraception used. The unmet need for contraception was found to be 18.16% with an 8.06% unmet need for spacing and a 10.6% unmet need for limiting. Conclusion: Contraceptive prevalence was 55.1% with 18.16% unmet need for contraception. Misapprehension and fear of side effects was a major reason for non-utilization of contraceptives. Routine Family Planning counselling and peer discussions will go a long way in dispelling the myths associated with family planning.