International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Tiwari P. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Sep;7(9):3659-3663

www.ijrcog.org pISSN 2320-1770 | eISSN 2320-1789

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20183772
Original Research Article

Myths and misconceptions regarding contraception in the urban poor

community in Jamshedpur, India
Pushpa Tiwari*

Tata Steel Family Initiatives Foundation, Tata Steel, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India

Received: 23 June 2018

Accepted: 24 July 2018

*Correspondence:
Dr. Pushpa Tiwari,
E-mail: pushpa.tiwari@tatasteel.com

Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ABSTRACT

Background: Family planning, a basic human right endorsed by the United Nations, allows everyone to decide the
number, spacing and timing of their children. This leads to fewer complications related to pregnancy and childbirth,
improves overall health.
Despite the obvious benefits, because of deeply rooted myths and misconceptions, they do not access these services.
Methods: Study was conducted in 10 Maternal and Child Health centers run by Tata Steel Family Initiatives
Foundation in and around Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, India. The study is based on primary quantitative data. Data
collection was by interviewing the respondents using a questionnaire.
Results: A total of 500 respondents were interviewed. Out of 500 respondents 392 were women and 108 were men.
The concept of family planning was well known. 99% women while 100% men had heard about family planning.
Only 49 % women and 45% men had correct knowledge regarding spacing between two children. 78% women and
men had correct knowledge about dual benefits of condom use. 63% women and 64% men feel that Cu T causes
backache and pain abdomen, hence they avoid using it. 54% women and 51% men do not like OCP as a method of
family planning as it is difficult to take it daily. Around 45% women and men were afraid regarding Tubectomy/
LTT. More women (41%) than men (38%) think that NSV causes weakness. Again, more women (36%) than men
(34%) think that NSV decrease capacity to do heavy work.
Conclusions: Results are showing that only knowledge about contraception is not enough to increase usage.
Behaviour change communication activities are needed to provide accurate information to dispel common myths and
misconceptions about modern contraceptives.

Keywords: Behaviour change communication, Contraception, Myths and misconceptions

INTRODUCTION poverty. Yet in developing regions, some 214 million

women who want to avoid pregnancy are not using safe
Family planning, a basic human right endorsed by the and effective family planning methods.2
United Nations, allows couples and individuals to decide
freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of The Sustainable Development Goals target 3.7
their children.1 specifically recognises the importance of information and
education: “By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual
Family planning is central to gender equality and and reproductive health care services, including for
women’s empowerment, and it is a key factor in reducing family planning, information and education, and the

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integration of reproductive health into national strategies study. All the women and men who had given consent
and programs.”3 were interviewed based on a predesigned questionnaire.

India has traversed a long and arduous path since Inclusion criteria
launching the first ever Family Planning programme in
the world in 1952. The programme has further evolved • For women was that she should not be pregnant at
from a targeted approach to a target free approach and the time of interview
has now been anointed as a critical intervention to reduce • For men was that his wife should not be pregnant at
maternal and child mortality and morbidity beyond a the time of interview.
simple strategy for achieving population stabilization.
India, the second most populous country of the world, Exclusion criteria
harbours 17.5% of the world’s population in only 2.4% of
the global land mass. Therefore, large population size of • Those women who were pregnant at the time of
India not only impacts its own but also the global health interview
indicators.4 • Women who were infertile.

Census 2011 India has registered decadal growth rate to Data analysis was done using Microsoft excel.
be 17.64 % while it was 21.54 % in the census 2001.
Among the total decadal growth rate, the rural areas of RESULTS
India grew at 12.18 % whereas, the urban areas of the
country grew at the rate of 31.80 % in the last census A total of 500 respondents were interviewed. Out of 500
decade. The state of Jharkhand state in India has shown respondents 392 were women and 108 were men.
decadal growth rate of 22.3% in the last census decade.5
dd
One of the goals enunciated in its National Population
Policy 2000, was to stabilize the population at a level Table 1: Awareness and benefits of family planning.
consistent with the requirement of national economy.6
However, this goal could not be achieved in the stipulated Respondents who have heard about F. P.
time. It was realized that without increasing use and Women Men Total
% %
access to contraceptives it would be difficult to impact (n= 392) (n=108) %
the prevailing high maternal, infant and child mortality Yes 389 99.23 108 100 99.40
substantially. In 2012 the ‘London Summit on Family No 3 0.77 0 0.00 0.60
Planning’ was held to bring back the focus on family Knowledge regarding spacing between two children
planning globally. 2 yrs. 15 3.83 6 5.50 4.19
3 yrs. 194 49.49 50 45.87 48.70
Purpose of this study is to explore the myths and 4 yrs. 46 11.73 16 14.68 12.38
misconceptions affecting utilization of FP among urban 5 yrs. or
137 34.95 37 33.94 34.73
poor in Jamshedpur. more
Knowledge about benefits of family planning
Myths and misconceptions about methods can spread keeps both
very easily in the community. mother and 190 48.47 51 48.11 48.39
baby healthy
Understanding why people do not use family planning is Reduces
maternal
critical to increase contraceptive use. 0 0.00 0 0.00 0.00
and infant
mortality
METHODS Prevents
2 0.51 0 0.00 0.40
malnutrition
Study was conducted in 10 Maternal and Child Health All are 51.0
centers run by Tata Steel Family Initiatives Foundation 200 55 51.89 51.20
correct 2
free of cost in and around Jamshedpur city in Jharkhand NR 0 2
state in India. These centers provide services to urban NR: Not responded to this question
poor from slums. This study was conducted from
February 2018 to March 2018. Table 1 shows that the concept of family planning was
well known among the community. 99% women while
Simple random sampling method was used for sampling. 100% men had heard about family planning but only 49
Total 500 interviews were conducted, out of which 392 % women and 46% men had correct knowledge regarding
were women of reproductive age group and 108 were spacing between two children. Only 51% respondents had
men. The study is based on primary data. Consent was correct knowledge regarding benefits of family planning.
taken from the women and men who were enrolled in the (Table 1). Table 2 shows that in our study 78% women
and men had correct knowledge about dual benefits of

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 Tiwari P. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Sep;7(9):3659-3663

condom use which is very important for prevention of Table 3 shows various myths and misconceptions
RTI/STI and HIV/AIDS (Table 2). regarding temporary methods of family planning. Myths
and misconceptions spread very easily in the community
Table 2: Knowledge about benefits of using condom. and discourage many potential or current users. 44%
women and 41% men responded that condom tears which
Women Men Total shows that correct method of using condom needs to be
% %
n= 392 n=108 % explained properly. 63% women and 64 % men feel that
Prevention of Cu T causes backache and pain abdomen, hence they
19 5.03 4 3.85 4.77
RTI/STI avoid using it. This means that proper counselling is
Preventing needed. 54% women and 51% men do not like OCP as a
61 16.14 18 17.31 16.39
pregnancy method of family planning as it is difficult to take it daily.
Both are This means that some method needs to be suggested to
295 78.04 82 78.85 78.22
correct them for remembering to take it daily e.g. Putting a mark
None of them in the calendar after taking it, taking it at a fixed time,
3 0.79 0 0.00 0.62
is correct keeping the packet at a prominent visible place, putting
NR 14 - 4 - - an alarm (Table 3).
NR: Not responded to this question

Table 3: Myths and misconceptions regarding temporary methods of family planning.

Condom
Women (n= 392) % Men (n=108) % Total %
Husband does not like it 52 44.44 13 35.14 42.21
Condom tears 51 43.59 15 40.54 42.86
Wife does not like it 14 11.97 9 24.32 14.94
NR 275 71
Cu T
Cu T causes cancer 31 10.92 9 13.85 11.46
Weight increases 62 21.83 13 20.00 21.49
Weight decreases 10 3.52 1 1.54 3.15
It causes backache, pain abdomen 179 63.03 42 64.62 63.32
A & D both 2 0.70 0 0.00 0.57
NR 108 42
Combined oral contraceptive pills
Forget to take it daily 153 53.87 43 51.19 53.26
Menstruation becomes irregular 39 13.73 16 19.05 14.95
It causes nausea 53 18.66 12 14.29 17.66
Weight increases 37 13.03 13 15.48 13.59
A & C Both 1 0.35 0 0.00 0.27
B & D Both 1 0.35 0 0.00 0.27
NR 108 - 24 - -
NR: Not responded to this question

Table 4: Myths and misconceptions regarding permanent methods of family planning.

Women (n= 392) % Men (n=108) % Total %

Tubectomy/ LTT
Because of fear 126 44.52 39 45.35 44.72
Family members do not want 47 16.61 17 19.77 17.34
It causes weakness 72 25.44 21 24.42 25.20
It causes obesity 38 13.43 9 10.47 12.74
NR 109 - 22 - -
NSV
It causes weakness 122 41.36 35 39.33 40.89
Decreases capacity to do heavy work 107 36.27 31 34.83 35.94
It affects earning capacity 31 10.51 10 11.24 10.68
It decreases libido 35 11.86 13 14.61 12.50
NR 97 19
NR: Not responded to this question

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 Tiwari P. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Sep;7(9):3659-3663

Table 4 shows myths and misconceptions regarding children, 14% had 3 and 4% had more than three
permanent methods of family planning. Around 45% children.
women and men were afraid regarding Tubectomy/ LTT
which needs proper counselling. More women (41%) Table 5: Ever discussed family planning with
than men (38%) think that NSV causes weakness. Again, their spouse.
more women (36%) than men (34%) think that NSV
decrease capacity to do heavy work. While men (12%) Women Men Total
% %
more than women (10%) feel that NSV affects earning (n= 392) (n=108) %
capacity and again more men (15%) than women (12%) Yes 380 97.94 97 95.10 97.35
feel that NSV decreases libido (Table 4). No 8 2.06 5 4.90 2.65
NR 4 - 6 - -
Table 5 shows that 98% women and 95% men had ever NR: Not responded to this question
discussed family planning with their spouse. For the
success of family planning, it is very important couples Table 6: Is family planning is only the responsibility
discuss it among themselves. Table 6 shows that 7% of women.
women and 4% men think that family planning is only
the responsibility of women. Women Men Total
% %
(n= 392) (n=108) %
Yes 27 6.94 4 3.77 6.26
Table 7 shows that in our study only 32% women and
No 362 93.06 102 96.23 93.74
37% men had education level above Std. 10. Out of total
NR 3 - 2 - -
respondents 67% women and 93 % men were Hindu
NR: Not responded to this question
while 31% women and 5.5% men were Muslims. 39%
respondents had only one living child, 41% had 2

Table 7: Education level, religion and no. of living children.

Education level
Women (n= 392) % Men (n=108) % Total %
Illiterate 10 2.55 4 3.70 2.80
Primary (up to std. 5) 34 8.67 4 3.70 7.60
Middle (up to std. 8) 101 25.77 24 22.22 25.00
Matric pass (up to std. 10) 120 30.61 35 32.41 31.00
Above matric pass (above std. 10) 127 32.40 41 37.96 33.60
Religion
Hindu 264 67.35 101 93.52 73.00
Muslim 123 31.38 6 5.56 25.80
Sikh 4 1.02 1 0.93 1.00
Christian 1 0.26 0 0.00 0.20
No. of living children
1 142 36.22 53 49.07 39.00
2 167 42.60 38 35.19 41.00
3 59 15.05 15 13.89 14.80
4 20 5.10 1 0.93 4.20
5 2 0.51 1 0.93 0.60
6 1 0.26 0 0.00 0.20
7 1 0.26 0 0.00 0.20

DISCUSSION provide for their existing children, from food to education

to housing, thereby making a greater contribution to the
Family planning, a basic human right endorsed by the economy. Despite the obvious benefits, because of deeply
United Nations, allows everyone to decide the number, rooted myths and misconceptions, they do not access
spacing and timing of their children. This leads to fewer these services.
complications related to pregnancy and childbirth,
improves overall health. Entire communities also benefit, In the case of family planning, the difficult part is not
as women who can access family planning can better convincing an individual that the service will be

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 Tiwari P. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Sep;7(9):3659-3663

beneficial to them - in most communities women want to and 7% women and 4% men think that family planning is
be able to plan their families. Cultural beliefs that prevent only the responsibility of women.
women from making their own decisions negatively
impact the implementation of family planning services. Funding: No funding sources
Overcoming these barriers requires innovative Conflict of interest: None declared
approaches that are different from those implemented for Ethical approval: The study was approved by the
other health care services.7 Institutional Ethics Committee

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men had ever discussed family planning with their spouse 2018;7:3659-63.

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