A cross-sectional study to assess the perception & practice of selected reversible family planning methods among postnatal women in maternity units of selected tertiary care hospital of Western Maharashtra

Abstract

Family planning plays a vital role in improving maternal and child health and achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.7, which ensures universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including family planning, by 2030. Despite the availability of reversible contraceptive methods, their use among postnatal women in India remains suboptimal. Understanding perception and practice among postnatal women is essential to identify barriers and strengthen uptake of reversible methods. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 170 postnatal women admitted to maternity units of tertiary care hospitals in Western Maharashtra to assess the perception and practice of selected reversible family planning methods condoms, oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), and Copper-T and to explore the relationship between perception and practice among postnatal women in selected tertiary care hospitals of Western Maharashtra. Participants were selected through non-probability convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising sociodemographic variables and standardized perception and practice scales. Descriptive and inferential statistics, including Pearson’s correlation coefficient, were used for analysis. Results shows the majority of participants (93.5%) had an average perception of reversible family planning methods, 5.9% had poor perception, and only 0.6% had good perception. Regarding practice, 94.5% demonstrated poor practice, 5.3% had average practice, and none had good practice. A weak positive correlation (r = +0.11, p = 0.17) was found between perception and practice, which was not statistically significant. Method-specific analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between perception and practice of condoms (r = 0.844, p<0.001) and a weak positive correlation for Copper-T (r = 0.174, p = 0.023), while oral contraceptive pills showed no significant relationship. Although perception regarding reversible family planning methods was average among most postnatal women, actual practice remained poor. Persistent barriers such as misconceptions, fear of side effects, limited accessibility, and lack of spousal support hinder utilization. Strengthening nurse-led counseling during the postnatal period, addressing myths, and ensuring method availability can substantially improve uptake of reversible family planning methods and promote maternal health.