Attitude of unmarried girls towards family planning: a study in an Orissa City.

In 1987-88 281 females from the Government Womens College in Berhampur Ganfam District Orissa State in India were surveyed to determine their knowledge and attitude toward family planning (FP). 80% came from urban areas. Educated fathers (72%) had considerable influence over the education of their daughters (p 50% of the students had discussed FP and family ties with their parents. 91% recognized the need for FP. 95% did not favor early marriage (p<.02). 66% knew the legal marriage age for females to be 18 years but only 47% knew it to be 21 for males. In fact 46% believed the age for males to be 25 years. 24% k new of only 1 FP method 23% of 2 methods and 14% of 3 methods. The leading method to be used after marriage according to the students was condoms (16%) followed by IUDs and oral contraceptives (OCs) (6%). The predominant method to use after childbirth was sterilization (13%) followed by IUDs (8%) and condoms and OCs (5%). Most students did not advocate using any method after marriage or after childbirth. 45% mentioned the best time to start FP was after 2 children and 26% after 1 child. Most (83%) preferred 2 children (p<.001) because of better child care and education (37%). 71% felt couples should wait 3 years before having another child. No one believed 1 or 4 years to be adequate birth spacing. Birth spacing was needed in the interest of the mothers health (30%) and for better health of the next child (29%). The mass media provided 50% of the students with FP knowledge. Most (70%) felt that insufficient FP education and basic education were the reasons for unplanned families. 82% believed the FP program would be successful in the future. 68% considered population control important to national development.