KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF LADY HEALTH WORKERS REGARDING FAMILY PLANNING PROGRAM IN TEHSIL MUZAFFARGARH

Practices of Lady Health Workers

Abstract

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of lady health workers (LHWs) regarding
implementation of family planning program in Tehsil MuzaffarGarh.
Study Design: Cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: It was carried out from December 2015 to May 2016 involving Lady Health Workers from 10 union councils of Tehsil MuzaffarGarh including both urban and rural areas.
Material and Methods: The data were collected by interviewing 307 LHWs using a structured closed ended
questionnaire. The data were entered & analyzed through SPSS version 22.
Results: Lady health workers (LHWs) demonstrated a good knowledge ranging from 78% to 99% of different
aspects of family planning. They were poorly informed regarding pregnancy complications, breast feeding and infertility. Almost all of them 305 (99%) showed positive attitude regarding job, trainings, compatibility of family planning with religion, although were unsatisfied with their salaries and monetary incentives.
Conclusions: LHWs have a good knowledge and positive attitude towards family planning except knowledge
about infertility, pregnancy complications and breast feeding. Family planning practices are difficult in rural
areas because of low literacy rate and dominance of mothers in law, which needs attention.