Family planning in Burkina Faso: results of a survey.
A survey of women of reproductive age was undertaken during April and May 1986 as part of an operations research project in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. Data were collected on respondents' knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of contraception. Although the government family planning program had been operating only since February 1985, knowledge of modern methods was surprisingly high, with 64 percent of respondents having ever heard of at least one modern method. Only 4.9 percent, however, were currently using a modern method. Use of traditional methods was high in this traditional society, with 41 percent of women currently practicing abstinence. Both knowledge and current use varied significantly across several background characteristics, the most important of which was education. The respondents were very vocal about their fertility desires regarding both the spacing and limitation of births. Moreover, attitudes toward possible future contraceptive use were extremely positive. These factors may be contributing to the steadily increasing demand for family planning services, which the government program is striving to meet.
McGinn
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Center for Population, New York, NY 10032.
Sebgo
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Fenn
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Bamba
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002050:Burkina Faso; D003625:Data Collection; D004522:Educational Status; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration