Awareness, Attitudes, and Contraceptive Acceptance Among Women Attending a Tertiary-Care Center in Delhi: A Cross-Sectional Study
- 1Obstetrics and Gynaecology, North DMC Medical College and Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi, IND
Abstract
Background: High contraceptive awareness does not always translate into favorable attitudes or actual uptake, particularly when family influence, misconceptions, and concerns about adverse effects shape reproductive decisions.
Objective: This study aimed to assess family planning awareness, attitudes, contraceptive acceptance, and factors associated with acceptance among women attending the gynecology outpatient department of a tertiary-care center in Delhi.
Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 556 women aged 18-48 years who attended the gynecology outpatient department from June 2024 to May 2025 and received family planning counseling. Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered data-collection proforma. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies, percentages, and Wilson 95% confidence intervals. Associations with contraceptive acceptance were assessed using Pearson’s Chi-square test, and effect size was estimated using Cramér’s V.
Results: Overall, 82.0% of participants were aware of family planning, but only 36.5% had a positive attitude. Following counseling, 313 women (56.3%; 95% CI 52.1-60.4) accepted a contraceptive method. Among acceptors, oral contraceptive pills (40.6%), condoms (28.8%), and copper intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) (17.3%) were chosen. Doctors were the principal source of information for 37.1% of participants. Husband or family opposition accounted for 80.7% of non-acceptance. A favorable opinion toward birth spacing was reported by 68.0%. Acceptance was significantly associated with age group (χ²=58.90, p < 0.001; Cramér’s V = 0.325) and obstetric category (χ² = 13.50, p = 0.009; Cramér’s V = 0.156), but not with educational status (χ² = 6.29, p = 0.099).
Conclusion: Despite high awareness, a substantial gap between awareness and contraceptive acceptance persisted. Person-centered counseling addressing misconceptions and family-related barriers may improve informed and voluntary contraceptive acceptance.
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BibTeX
@article{mendiratta2026awareness,
title = {{Awareness, Attitudes, and Contraceptive Acceptance Among Women Attending a Tertiary-Care Center in Delhi: A Cross-Sectional Study}},
author = {Suman Lata Mendiratta and Suman Dath S and Ankita Sinha},
journal = {Cureus},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.7759/cureus.117429},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13730285},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Awareness, Attitudes, and Contraceptive Acceptance Among Women Attending a Tertiary-Care Center in Delhi: A Cross-Sectional Study
AU - Suman Lata Mendiratta
AU - Suman Dath S
AU - Ankita Sinha
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/04
JO - Cureus
DO - 10.7759/cureus.117429
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13730285
AB - Background: High contraceptive awareness does not always translate into favorable attitudes or actual uptake, particularly when family influence, misconceptions, and concerns about adverse effects shape reproductive decisions. Objective: This study aimed to assess family planning awareness, attitudes, contraceptive acceptance, and factors associated with acceptance among women attending the gynecology outpatient department of a tertiary-care center in Delhi. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 556 women aged 18-48 years who attended the gynecology outpatient department from June 2024 to May 2025 and received family planning counseling. Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered data-collection proforma. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies, percentages, and Wilson 95% confidence intervals. Associations with contraceptive acceptance were assessed using Pearson’s Chi-square test, and effect size was estimated using Cramér’s V. Results: Overall, 82.0% of participants were aware of family planning, but only 36.5% had a positive attitude. Following counseling, 313 women (56.3%; 95% CI 52.1-60.4) accepted a contraceptive method. Among acceptors, oral contraceptive pills (40.6%), condoms (28.8%), and copper intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) (17.3%) were chosen. Doctors were the principal source of information for 37.1% of participants. Husband or family opposition accounted for 80.7% of non-acceptance. A favorable opinion toward birth spacing was reported by 68.0%. Acceptance was significantly associated with age group (χ²=58.90, p < 0.001; Cramér’s V = 0.325) and obstetric category (χ² = 13.50, p = 0.009; Cramér’s V = 0.156), but not with educational status (χ² = 6.29, p = 0.099). Conclusion: Despite high awareness, a substantial gap between awareness and contraceptive acceptance persisted. Person-centered counseling addressing misconceptions and family-related barriers may improve informed and voluntary contraceptive acceptance.
SN - 2168-8184
ER -