Impact of female education on the decision to use contraceptives in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Objective: To determine the impact of female education on the decision to use contraceptives in Rawalpindi Pakistan. Methodology: This cross section study was carried out at Gynecology and Obstetrics Unit PESSI Hospital Rawalpindi from January 2014 to April 2014. Eighty-one patients were selected by consecutive sampling after informed written consent and acquiring Hospital ethical committee approval. The survey interview tool was a semi structured questionnaire. The FP methods used included condoms IUCDs oral contraceptive hormonal pills or injections. Results: Husbands education level shows that there were 14% primary 40% secondary 14% FSc 19% graduate and 15% post graduate participants in the study. In comparison the womens education distribution was 27% primary 17% secondary 19% FSc 14% graduate and 23% post graduate. There was no significant association of husbands education level with the decision of not using the contraceptive method. The access to knowledge about contraceptives was directly proportional to the level of education (p 0.05). Similarly the opposition from husband or in laws and beliefs in religious prohibition were also found to be independent of the wifes educational level (p>0.05}. Conclusions: Health related concerns or fear of side effects regarding contraceptives sometimes tend to increase as educational level of wife increases. There is a need to holistically approach this gap between awareness and application of contraceptive agents by concurrently imparting knowledge as well as ownership so the deep rooted fears of side effects could be allayed.