RELATIONSHIP OF FEMALE LITERACY TO CONTRACEPTIVE USE IN URBAN SLUMS OF KHUSHAB (PUNJAB)

To determine the effect of education on contraceptive use among married women of reproductive age, this study was conducted in urban slums of Jauharabad, District Khushab, consisting of 3000 inhabitants. Out of 400 married women of reproductive age, 150 women were randomly selected. Women were interviewed using a pretested questionnaire. Eighty eight percent women had knowledge about at least one method of contraception. Among literate women, 61% used a contraceptive method as compared with 38.5% women in illiterate group. A large proportion of women (66.6%) with matric or higher education reported use of contraceptive methods as compared to women with education less than matric (57%).About 43% literate women were using condoms while 21.4% were using injections, whereas 32.5% illiterate women were using pills and 22.5% had tubal ligation. Literate women had 2.7 children on an average whereas illiterate women had 4 children. Female literacy level was relatively low, but there was an appreciable awareness regarding contraceptive methods. The study concluded that higher education level is associated with higher use of contraceptives and lesser number of children