Factors concerning the attitudes of married women toward family planning in Aydın, Turkey: A crosssectional study

Abstract

Background: Because of unemployment and inadequate education and health services, high rate of maternal and infant mortalities, a rapidly growing population is a serious problem in Turkey. Social values and attitudes of women might be effective in using modern family planning methods. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the factors concerning the attitudes of married women toward family planning.

Materials and Methods: Four hundred and twenty-seven women were randomly selected among 29,874 women and included in this cross-sectional study. The study was conducted between June 2008 and September 2008, and included married women between 15 and 49 years of age, living in the provincial centre of Aydin, a city in western Turkey. The study data were obtained using a questionnaire and the Family Planning Attitude Scale.

Results: Of the women participating in the study, 60.4% used modern methods and 26.0% used conventional methods. These variables included, in a descending order of contribution to the model’s power, having a college degree, being a primary school graduate, the longest period of rural life, use of conventional methods, discussing with one’s spouse issues about family planning, and age and high perception of income level.

Conclusions: Reorganization of family planning services by giving priority to women living in rural areas with low income and education level and conventional contraception method use could contribute to positive attitudes toward family planning. Including their spouses to this reorganization may enhance the impact.

Key words: Attitude, contraceptive methods, family planning services, Turkey