CONTRACEPTIVE PRACTICES AMONG ELIGIBLE COUPLES: A CROSS SECTIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY IN ELIGIBLE COUPLES OF URBAN POPULATION OF GARHWAL - UTTARAKHAND -

Background: The world population has crossed the mark of 7 billion in 2011. India is the second most populous country in the world and will be the most populous in a couple of years. Family planning can be ascertained as the best tool for fertility regulation in absence of a strong legislation. Methods: The cross sectional survey was conducted over a period of six months among 160 eligible couples from urban field practicing areas of the department of community medicine, Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali government medical college, Srinagar, Garhwal. Women who are currently pregnant, menopausal, widows, had hysterectomy or are not cohabiting with their husbands were not included in the study. Data analysis has been done using SPSS version 15.0. To test significance chi square test have been used as applicable. Results: 120 (75%) eligible couples were using any form of contraceptive method. Knowledge of respondents was satisfactory regarding various contraceptive methods. Contraceptive use was found significantly associated with socio-economic status, literacy level, Religion and age of the eligible female. Conclusions: The study clearly shows that contraceptive prevalence has definitely risen in recent past when compared with national figures. In the hilly urban community the needed couple protection rate of 60%, for achievement of net reproductive ratio of one, has been achieved. Female empowerment in form of education, deferring early marriages, and economic strengthening can prove valuable when fertility regulation is the concern.