Attitudes towards family planning in the Southeast Anatolian Project (SEAP) region of Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To determine attitudes towards family size and last pregnancies in order to improve family planning services in the Southeast Anatolian Project (SEAP) region.


METHODS
A questionnaire survey in the nine SEAP regional provinces was carried out under the auspices of the 'SEAP Public Health Project' from 2001 to 2002. The participants comprised 1756 women and 661 men from 1126 households.


RESULTS
For men and women aged 15 years and over the median ideal number of children was three. The rate of unintended last pregnancies (43.1%) in the present study was very high compared to the national average of 18.8%. Some 30.1% of the last pregnancies were unwanted by either partner.


CONCLUSIONS
The number of pregnancies and children in this region is approximately twice as high as the ideal number. Families in the region are having more children than they want. Basic education must be given to women, particularly non-Turkish speakers, to improve their knowledge and use of family planning. Family planning education for men in rural areas also needs special attention.
Ozcirpici
Birgul
B
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey.
Ozgur
Servet
S
Sahinoz
Saime
S
Bozkurt
Ali Ihsan
AI
Sahinoz
Turgut
T
Ilcin
Ersen
E
Saka
Gunay
G
Ceylan
Ali
A
Acemoglu
Hamit
H
Palanci
Yilmaz
Y
Akkafa
Feridun
F
Bektas
Bayram
B
Karacasu
Ferit
F
Ak
Mucide
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D014421:Turkey
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female