INTRODUCTION:

Family planning is ranked one of the twentieth century's top ten innovations in public health. Over the past 20 years, more women of reproductive age are using family planning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Contraception is widely used nowadays to prevent pregnancy.¹

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines family planning as the ability of individuals and couples to plan for and attain the number of children they desire, as well as the spacing and timing of their births.² It is achieved through the use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of involuntary infertility. It helps couples avoid unwanted pregnancies, stops sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) from spreading, and reduces infertility rates by treating STD problems. It satisfies these three fundamental requirements.³

From 900 million in 2000 to over 1.1 billion in 2020, the WHO reports that Throughout the past 20 years, there has been a notable increase in the number of women who wish to use family planning.⁴ This shows that the number of women taking modern contraceptives increased from 663 million to 851 million, and the prevalence of these methods increased from 47.7 to 49.0 percent. It is anticipated that there will be an additional 70 million women by 2030.⁵

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Study design and Approach:

This study employed a comparative research design to assess the knowledge and attitude. The research was conducted in selected Akhnoor (urban) and Chak Bhalwal (rural) area of Jammu.

Sample and Sampling Technique:

A total 100(50 urban and 50 rural) females were selected using purposive sampling technique. Eligible participants were females of reproductive age group of 18 to 45 years who were present at the time of study and willing to provide informed consent.

Measurement tool:

Knowledge of participants was assessed using self structured knowledge questionnaire including 20 questions and attitude was assessed by sing self-structured Likert scale including 5 positive and 5 negative statements.

Data collection Procedure:

After the approval from institutional ethical and research committee of BEE ENN College of Nursing, Jammu. A written permission for data collection was taken from Sarpanch of Chak Bhalwal (rural area) Jammu and from Block Medical Officer (BMO) Sub-district hospital Aknoor (urban area). Written informed consent was taken from each study subject after explaining the study details, confidentiality and voluntary participation. Data was collected with the help of predesigned and pretested tool. Data was collected in 3 weeks.

Statistical Analysis:

The data was analysed using Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, median, standard deviation, and range) and inferential statistics (unpaired t-test, Karl Pearson coefficient of correlation. Chi-square test). A p-value > 0.05 was considered statistically non significant.

RESULTS:

Demographic Characteristics of Females of both Urban and Rural area:

The demographic profile of females of both Urban and Rural area showed comparable characteristics. A majority of females from both areas were in the age group of 18 to 45 years. Most of the participants had secondary education and were unemployed. In both areas less number of females have used the contraceptive methods.

Assess the Knowledge and Attitude Regarding Selected Temporary Contraceptive Methods Among the Females:

Females from rural areas have adequate knowledge and positive attitude regarding selected temporary contraceptive methods. Among 50 participants from rural area 78% of females have adequate knowledge and among 50 participants from urban area 28% of females have adequate knowledge regarding selected temporary contraceptive methods. Among 50 participants from rural area 52% of females have Positive attitude and among 50 participants from urban area 28% of females have positive attitude.

Relationship between the knowledge and attitude score regarding selected temporary contraceptive methods among females:

There is a positive correlation between the level of knowledge and attitude regarding selected temporary contraceptive methods among females in selected rural areas in Jammu, knowledge and attitude in rural area is significantly associated with Karl Pearson coefficient r=0.62(positive correlation), p=0.02. While in case of Urban area knowledge and attitude is non significantly associated with p value=0.08, r=0.41(weak positive).

Association between knowledge and attitude score regarding selected temporary contraceptive methods among the females in selected urban and rural area in Jammu with their socio-demographic variables:

The study reveals that no significant associations were found between knowledge and attitude in urban and rural areas with the socio-demographic variables. As far as association of attitude with demographic variable is concerned, religion is the only factor which is significantly associated with level of attitude while rest of the demographic variable seems to be non-significantly associated with level of attitude with p value >0.05 in all the cases except age. As far as association of attitude with demographic variable is concerned age is the only factor which is significantly associated with level of attitude while rest of the demographic variable seems to be non-significantly associated with level of attitude with p value > 0.05 in all the cases except age.

Descriptive Statistics:

Table 1. Frequency and percentage distribution of respondents according to their Socio-demographic variables. N=100

Characteristics	Urban (50)			Rural (50)
Characteristics	Content	F	P	F	p
Age(years)	18-25	13	26%	0	0%
	26-33	17	34%	19	38%
	34-41	11	22%	25	50%
	>41	9	18%	6	12%
Socio-economic Status	Rich	2	4%	1	2%
	Middle class	48	96%	49	98%
	Poor	0	0%	0	0%
	Very poor	0	0%	0	0%
Qualification	No formal education	1	2%	3	6%
	Primary education	9	18%	7	14%
	High School	26	52%	29	58%
	Graduate or above	14	28%	11	22%
Religion	Hindu	27	54%	47	94%
	Muslim	23	46%	3	6%
	Sikh	0	0%	0	0%
	others	0	0%	0	0%
Marital status	Married	43	86%	47	94%
	Unmarried	7	14%	1	2%
	Divorced	0	0%	2	4%
	Others	0	0%	0	0%
Type of family	Nuclear	50	100%	50	100%
	Joint	0	0%	0	0%
	Extended	0	0%	0	0%
	Others	0	0%	0	0%
Total no of children in a family	0	20	40%	20	40%
	1	30	60%	30	60%
	2	0	0%	0	0%
	≥3	0	0%	0	0%

Figure No 1: Comparison of level of knowledge among urban and rural areas.

Figure No 2: Level of attitude among rural and urban areas.

CONCLUSION:

The study reveals that rural population have both adequate knowledge and positive attitude than urban population regarding selected temporary contraceptive methods among females in selected urban and rural area in Jammu. This suggests that as women's understanding of temporary contraceptive methods increases, their attitudes toward these methods become more favorable. These findings underscore the importance of targeted educational and awareness programs to enhance knowledge and positively influence attitudes toward temporary contraceptive methods, particularly in urban areas where knowledge and positive attitudes were comparatively lower. By addressing informational gaps and misconceptions, such interventions can contribute to more informed making choices pertaining to reproductive health and family planning.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

The author expresses their sincere gratitude to all the females who participated in this study. Special thanks to Prof. Frank J C, principal Bee Enn College of Nursing, Jammu for their guidance and assistance throughout the research process.

REFERENCES:

1. Cilluffo A, Ruiz NG. World’s population is projected to nearly stop growing by the end of the century. Washington, USA: Pew Research Centre; 2019. Available from: https://actualities.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/113.-World-population-growth-is-expected-to-nearly-stop-by-2100-_-Pew-Research-Center.pdf. Accessed May 20, 2023.

2. de Oliveira IT, Dias JG, Padmadas SS. Dominance of sterilization and alternative choices of contraception in India: an appraisal of the socioeconomic impact. PLoS One. 2014; 9(1): e86654. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086654.

3. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. World Population Prospects 2019 Highlights. 2019. Available from: https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/news/world-population-prospects-2019-0. Accessed May 20, 2023.

4. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Family Planning 2022: Meeting the changing needs for family planning: Contraceptive use by age and method. UN DESA/POP/2022/TR/NO. 4; 2022.

5. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Estimates and Projections of Family Planning Indicators 2022. 2022.

Received on 27.09.2025 Revised on 11.11.2025

Accepted on 26.12.2025 Published on 25.02.2026

Available online from February 28, 2026

A and V Pub Int. J. of Nursing and Med. Res. 2026; 5(1):6-8.

DOI: 10.52711/ijnmr.2026.02

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