Knowledge of 15-49 aged women applying to primary health care centers in the provincial center of Kayseri about family planning methods and prevalence of contraceptive methods usage

 The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of contraception and the knowledge of 15-49 aged women about family planning methods applying to 11 Primary Health Care Centers in the Melikgazi Education and Research Health District in the provincial centre of Kayseri.

 This is a descriptive study conducted between September 1 and September 15, 2008. All the 15-49 aged women applied to the primary heath care centers for any reason were investigated. A preformed questionnaire was applied by interns using the face to face interview technique. Data were evaluated in SPSS Version 15.0. t test were used for statistical evaluation.

 In the study 1434 women were evaluated. Average age of the women was 34.2±7.9 years (min:18- max: 49), 43.3 % of them were graduated from primary school and 95.2 % were married with a marriage year average of 13.8±8.7. Average of their childbirth number was 2.2±1.3. Out of 1434 women 94.4% said that they knew a family planning method. The first three family planning methods mentioned by the women were intrauterine device (81.0%), pill (75.55) and condom (73.1%). But 2.9% of the women said lactation as a family planning method. It was determined that 63.8% of married women were using a protection method, and 94.6 % of them were using modern methods. The main reasons for not using a method were desire for a child, or being pregnant.