Reach of Communication Channels in Promoting Family Planning among Women in Rural Rajasthan

Abstract

Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) is an essential intervention program to publicize health-giving knowledge among the masses and bring behavioural changes in individuals. The program incorporates the basic feature of Sustainable Development Goal 3, which focusses on “ensuring healthy lives and wellbeing promotion of all”. Objective: The study explored the reach of communication channels and the level of health awareness about family planning among rural women. Setting Analysis of IEC activities were undertaken in the seven administrative divisions of Rajasthan. Method: A cross-sectional study in which family planning assessment was done by administering a planned structured questionnaire. Sample: Data was collected from 275 women in the age group of 15-49 years. Results: The study reported a very high level of awareness towards family planning (97.09%). Interestingly, 71% of women knew the suitable age of bearing first child after marriage and 90% of them were aware of spacing between two children. ASHA workers, others (community discussion, friends, and relatives) and Television were the major source of communication. Newspaper, radio, etc. exuded minimal information. Respondents revealed greater awareness about Tubectomy (89%), contraceptive pills (80.52%), Vasectomy (75.28), Injectable contraception (74.53) as well. Conclusion: Women demonstrated a high level of awareness about family planning and interpersonal communication was the key to mass awareness.