Knowledge Regarding Family Planning Among Pregnant Mothers in Selected Areas of Aizawl, Mizoram

Abstract

Introduction: Family planning is an essential component of reproductive health that helps couples determine the number and spacing of their children, thereby improving maternal and child health outcomes. Title of the Study: A Study to Assess the Knowledge Regarding Family Planning Among Pregnant Mothers in Selected Areas of Aizawl, Mizoram. Objectives: To assess the knowledge regarding family planning among pregnant mothers and to determine their association with selected socio-demographic variables. Methodology: A non-experimental descriptive research design was adopted. A total of 60 pregnant mothers were selected through purposive sampling from selected areas of Aizawl, Mizoram. Data were collected using a self-structured knowledge questionnaire. Results: The findings showed that 68.3% of pregnant mothers had moderately adequate knowledge, 23.3% had adequate knowledge, and 8.3% had inadequate knowledge regarding family planning. No significant association was found between knowledge and selected socio-demographic variables. Conclusion: The study concluded that most pregnant mothers had moderately adequate knowledge regarding family planning. Continuous health education is needed to improve awareness of family planning.

Introduction

This study examines the knowledge of family planning among pregnant mothers in selected areas of Aizawl, Mizoram. Family planning, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), enables individuals and couples to determine the number, spacing, and timing of their children through contraception and infertility treatment. Despite India launching the world's first National Population Control Program in 1952, population growth remains a challenge, highlighting the need for greater awareness of family planning.

The study had two main objectives:

1. To assess the level of knowledge regarding family planning among pregnant mothers.
2. To determine the association between family planning knowledge and selected socio-demographic variables.

The hypothesis proposed a significant relationship between knowledge levels and socio-demographic characteristics.

The literature review found varying levels of family planning knowledge among women and eligible couples across India. Previous studies reported that many women possess only moderate or poor knowledge, with education, occupation, and religion significantly influencing awareness. Studies also showed that although attitudes toward family planning are generally positive, knowledge gaps and barriers such as lack of awareness continue to limit contraceptive use.

A non-experimental descriptive quantitative research design was adopted. The study was conducted in selected AAM Sub-Centres in Aizawl North among 60 pregnant mothers, selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected through a self-structured questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic information and 20 multiple-choice questions on family planning. The research tool was validated by experts, tested through a pilot study, and ethical approval and informed consent were obtained before data collection.

The demographic profile of the participants showed that:

• Most participants were over 30 years of age (36.7%).
• All participants (100%) were Christians.
• Nearly half (48.3%) had secondary education.
• Most (58.3%) were homemakers.
• Almost half (46.7%) had a monthly income below ?10,000.
• The majority (91.7%) were married.
• Most participants had one or two children, while 26.7% had no children.

Conclusion

The study concluded that most pregnant mothers had adequate knowledge towards family planning. The findings indicate that respondents were generally aware of the importance of family planning in promoting maternal and child health and in ensuring proper spacing of pregnancies. No significant association was found between knowledge levels and selected demographic variables. The study highlights the need for continued health education and counselling to further strengthen knowledge towards family planning among pregnant mothers.

References

[1] Mrs Anuradha Hazarika Medhi, & Dr Hiranya Saikia. (2019). Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Family Planning Among Scheduled Caste Women of Jorhat District, Assam. International Journal of Research and Review, 6(5), 71–77. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3989309. [2] Imtishal, M., Kumar, R., & Singh, P. (2023). Knowledge and attitudes regarding family planning among pregnant women: A cross-sectional study. Maternal and Child Health Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-023-03618-3 [3] Begum, S., Hossain, M., & Islam, M. (2017). Knowledge and attitude towards family planning among women in rural communities. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 6(3), 545–550. [4] John, N. N., & George, A. (2020). Knowledge, attitude and practices regarding family planning among pregnant women in a rural area of Kerala. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 7(12), 1–6. [5] Gupta, A., Verma, S., & Sharma, R. (2018). Awareness and practice of family planning methods among women in urban and rural areas. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 5(6), 2342–2347.

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Valley Nyokir, Prof. Nirmali Gogoi, Ms. Lalhruaimawii . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.