Socio-Cultural Characteristics of Permanent Family Planning Users of Marginalized Population: A Sociological Perspective

Abstract

Background: The contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) in Nepal is about 30%. Majority of the contraceptive prevalence rate is contributed by permanent method users. This has a long term impact on the program as unsatisfied clients may create a long term barrier for acceptance of barrier among new users. Besides, the low rate of temporary users might have effect on the permanent method users. Many scholars, demographers and various national and international researchers unanimously agree that Nepal's birth rate is very high yet there has been very little micro level study to assess the exact birth rate and the effectiveness of family planning in different communities of rural areas. This study therefore tries to find out the attitude and socio-cultural characteristics of both male and famle permanent family planning users in different ethnic and lower caste groups of Jhapa district of Nepal. Methods: The proposed study was descriptive in nature. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to carry out research. Jhapa district from eastern terai was selected for the study. Three VDCs namely Topgachhi, Dhaijan and Chandragadi, two municipalities namely Damak and Mechinagar were selected purposively for the study. 100 users of permanent family planning methods were selected. Tools and techniques such as semi-structured questionnaire, unstructured interview schedule, case study and key informant interview were developed to elicit both quantitative and qualitative information. All the information and data were recorded for computer analysis. Results: The study revealed that 53% of the respondents have used permanent family planning methods at Bhadrapur hospital which is situated at a distance of 37.5 km from the residence of Dhimal and Satar. Some respondents have used this method in India at a distance of 75 km from their residence. This indicates that people prefer to use permanent family planning method at the reliable and safe place regardless of distance. The use of permanent family planning methods was found to be high among the female respondents. The rate of the users of family planning is affected by many socio-cultural factors, preference of son was found to be the most important factors. All the respondents in the study area used this method only after having 3 to 4 living sons. Conclusions: There was lack of availability of permanent family planning method in the vicinity of the residential places of the respondents. They had to go far distance places to use permanent method of family planning. Most of the respondents had complained about the effect of operation on their health situation. Keywords: marginalized population; permanent family planning methods; socio-cultural characteristics; users.