Abstract

Objective: To identify the barriers in practicing family planning methods (FPM) among reproductive age group women attending antenatal clinics of two tertiary care hospitals of Karachi Pakistan.
Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in antenatal clinics of Obstetrics Outpatient Department of two tertiary care hospitals of Karachi Pakistan, 450 women of 15-49 years of age were included in the study by consecutive sampling, interviewed by using structured questionnaire after taking the informed consent. The data were entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 21. Frequencies and percentages were calculated, and logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the barriers related to use of family planning methods. 
Results: The mean age of women was 26.6 with SD 4.6 years. The odds of using FPM by women who received advise of FP in last delivery were 2.9 times more as compared to women who did not receive FP advise (OR=2.9, 95%CI: 2.8- 3.1) in last delivery. The other variables which showed significant association with use of FPM were living in joint family (OR=1.8, 95%CI=1.7-1.9), having more than two female children (OR=3.0,95%CI=1.7-5.3), Husbands' in favor of use of FPM (OR=24.2,95% CI=1.7-5.3), women ever consulted with family planning clinics (OR=7.7, 95%CI=2.3- 26.0), women received antenatal care in last pregnancy (OR=2.1,95%CI=1.3-3.3) and women received post-partum care in last pregnancy (OR=2.7,95%CI=1.5-4.7).
Conclusion: Socio-cultural, minimal access, lack of information, husbands' involvement were the major barriers identiied in this study. Antenatal care and family planning counseling can play a major role in uptake of FPM.