Factors affecting contraceptive use and behavior in Kocaeli, Turkey

This study aimed to investigate contraceptive use and its determinants in K ocaeli, Turkey. A questionnaire was applied to 922 randomly selected sexual ly active women of reproductive age, in order to extract information concer ning contraceptive use and sociodemographic factors affecting behavior and contraceptive use. Knowledge of at least one method was nearly universal. I ntrauterine devices and withdrawal were the most commonly used methods. Ill iterate women and housewives had less knowledge about some modern methods. The number of children (p <0.001), nuclear type family (p <0.05), and appro val of family planning (p <0.001) were the factors most predictive of contr aceptive use. Husbands were involved in family planning via discussing fami ly size (79.4%) and method (85.5%); 38.2% of males participated actively by using withdrawal or condom. Increasing the literacy of both male and femal e partners significantly increased both contraceptive use and the participa tion of husbands in family planning descision making. In conclusion, increa sing the education level of couples and the status of women would result in increased contraceptive use in the future. Since the contraceptive behavio r of women is influenced by their husbands' attitudes, family planning prog rams should be focused on the needs of both partners.