The factors influencing the access of married women, aged 15-49, to family planning services in Karabuk province

Objective: To evaluate the access of married women of reproductive age to family planning (FP) services and associated factors in Karabuk. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Karabuk in 2015-2016. The population of the study was married women living in Karabuk. The sample size was calculated by the Epi-Info-7 StatCalc software as 284, within a universe of 34,207 married women of 15-49 age group, with a confidence interval of 95%, a margin of error of 5% and a prevalence of 75.2% (prevalence of women in the Western Black Sea Region of Turkey using any contraceptive method - 2013 Demographic and Health Survey of Turkey), and it was planned to reach 300 women. The sample was distributed proportionally by the populations of residential areas. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews. In the analysis of data, Chi-Square Test and binary logistic regression were applied. Results: Of all the women, 80.3% were found to use some form of FP method. More specifically, 48.6% were found to use modern methods, while 31.7% were found to use traditional methods. The three most common methods were coitus-interruptus (31.0%), condoms (18.3%) and tubal-ligation (16.0%). The unmet need for FP was found to be at 9.7%. Conclusions: This study shows that traditional FP methods are widely used to prevent pregnancy and that the FP needs are not met for one in every ten women in Karabuk. To remove the barriers in accessing FP services, comprehensive primary care which focuses on the needs of the community is needed.