Family planning among women in Nepal: Strong knowledge but weak practice

The practice of controlling the number of children one has and the intervals between their births, particularly by means of contraception or voluntary sterilisation, is simply known as family planning. In fact, family planning services mean enabling a couple to decide and maintain the size and space of the family through educational, comprehensive medical and social activities including appropriate methods and means. The use of contraceptives do not maintain the size of the family only; these also help to create a positive impact on maternal and child health. This ultimately increases care, support, nutrition to the children which lead to better educational opportunities and finally help to increase the economic status of the family. That is why the means of family planning help a nation manage proper resources and increase per capita income.

In Nepal, all family planning services are free of cost and most of the services are available at the grassroots. Nepal Demography and Health Survey 2016 shows all the women aged 15 to 45 years know about the means of family planning. But, the use of contraceptives among them is decreasing. The issue, hence, is interesting to discuss.