Family planning methods among couples of a selected Barangay in Tacloban City: Basis for healthcare program enhancement

Abstract

The increase of population affects many aspects of society, including living conditions, basic needs, employment status and most importantly the health system. It is thus imperative to adequately plan family size in order to build a stable society. But despite of the availability of family planning programs where most methods of contraception are available both in the rural and urban health centers, literatures shows that population growth is still at rise. Thus the researcher became curious of the knowledge, attitude and practices of couples in family planning. The study tried to assess the level of awareness and practices of family planning methods among couples in a selected Barangay in Tacloban City. It tried to seek the demographic profile of the respondents, their level of awareness and practices on the different family planning methods, and establish if there is any relationship between their level of awareness and demographic profile. This study followed a quantitative research model using an explorative and descriptive design to assess the level of awareness and practices of family planning practices among families in a selected barangay. Data were gathered through personal interview through the use of a survey questionnaire to all 109 couples within reproductive age of 15 - 49 in the selected barangay and were analyzed with the use of Pearson – r, Eta correlation, and T-Test. Generally, the couples are educated adults earning below the poverty level income with an average of 3 children majority of whom were practicing family planning for five years and less. The more common and easy to practice natural family planning methods which include abstinence, withdrawal, and standard days method, the higher is the couple’s awareness level. On the other hand, the easier to use and readily available artificial family planning methods include bilateral tubal ligation, use of pills, injectables, and condom is the higher couple’s level of awareness. Easy to practice natural family planning methods are the most observed method in the community to include abstinence and withdrawal. The more complicated the method become the least likely it will be practiced by couples. Condoms, pills, bilateral tubal ligation, and injection which are more accessible and readily available artificial family planning methods in the community are the most chosen and utilized by the couples. Age, number of children, and the number of years using family planning do not affect the couples’ level of awareness but they are rather affected by religion, educational attainment, occupation, and monthly income. Religion being a cultural aspect does influence awareness on specific family planning methods which include ovulation method and IUD use. Educational attainment influence awareness on highly technical family planning methods that need deeper understanding which include Coitus Interuptus/Withdrawal, Calendar/Rhythm/Standard Days Method, Mucous/Billings/Ovulation Method, Lactating Amenorrhea Method, Birth Control Pills, IUD and Vasectomy. Occupation influences Mucous/Billings/Ovulation Method and Birth Control Pills and monthly income influence awareness on Ovulation Method, Lactating Amenorrhea Method Birth Control Pills, Condoms, and IUD. Thus, the higher socio-economic status couples have the more access to the information and somehow interest on these family planning methods there is.