A study of one-hundred and sixty active and inactive family planning mothers and how they differ in attitudes and socio-economic conditions

Purpose: The objectives of this study were: (1) to demonstrate the need for more insight into the family planning problems of low income mothers; (2) to provide a current comparative survey of active family planning mothers and inactive family planning mothers; (3) to determine whether significant differences exist among these groups with respect to the four areas of analysis—mother’s attitude toward children, mother’s attitude toward her husband, mother’s attitude toward family planning services, and the mother’s socio-economic conditions. Methods: The methods used in this study were: (1) to collect data on the attitudes and socio-economic conditions of active and inactive family planning mothers by utilizing a questionnaire; (2) to analyze the responses to the specific questions within the four categories of analysis for the active and inactive family planning mothers by using the chi square test with the differences considered to be significant at the .05 level. Findings: From the data presented in this study the following conclusions were made: 1. Active family planning mothers—young and educated—have a comprehensive understanding of family planning. On the other hand, inactive family planning mothers—older and poorly education—have a lack of knowledge concerning family planning. 2. Active family planning mothers prefer to use family planning contraception because it is easier to use than other means of contraception’s. Inactive family planning mothers use other methods of contraception because they experience more problems with family planning. 3. Active family planning mothers feel that family planning is conducive to good health, but inactive family planning mothers feel insecure about this. 4. Active family planning mothers have excellent human relationships with the personnel of family planning. However, inactive family planning mothers seem to have less meaningful relationships with family planning personnel. 5. Active family planning mothers believe that family planning is good for the people of their races/ The inactive family planning mothers feel less [positive of their ability to have additional children and most are not receptive to others suggesting that they use family planning. 8. Most hundreds of family planning mothers—active and inactive—approve of their wives using family planning services.