FREQUENCY OF CONTRACEPTIVE PRACTICE AMONGST DOCTORS OF PAKISTAN ARMED FORCES

Contraceptive Practice

Abstract

Objective: This study was undertaken on the exponents of motivation and implementation of family planning measures in Armed Forces i.e., doctors, with emphasis on finding their contraceptive prevalence rate. 
Design: Cross-sectional prospective study.  
Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Postgraduate Institute Rawalpindi from March 2003 to June 2004.  
Methods: A comprehensively structured open and closed ended questionnaire was mailed to selected married medical officers of Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy. Based on their responses the data was prepared, analysed and interpreted.  
Results: Seventy seven percent of military doctors were practising some contraceptive method at the time of study. Most of the doctors were using condoms for contraception. Sixteen percentage of all respondents have never used any contraceptive in their life. More than 70% believe that the religion of Islam is not a barrier in family planning.
Conclusions: Most of doctors were not satisfied with the performance of family planning centres functioning in the Army. There is a dire need to improve the female literacy, awareness about contraceptive methods and their accessibility among military masses of Pakistan.