Study on the rate of using different family planning methods and attitudes of under 25 years married females towards family planning referring to west province health center of Mazandaran in 2001

Background and Family planning is very important particularly in adolescents and youth age group. The aim of this study is to determine the rate of using family planning methods with contraceptives and the attitude of married females under 25 years towards family planning in west of mazandaran province. This research has been descriptive method. 542 married females under 25 years referring to urban and rular health centers were selected by cluster sampling from four townships of west mazandaran, and interviewed. ÏÜD is the most common used method of contraception (28.6%). The main reason of leaving previous method of contracepton, or not using prevention method was the cause of side effect. The ideal children number according the majority (47.8%) of the persons under study was 2. Most of the individuals had positive attitude towards family planning (60.6%) and ideal number of children (59%). There was statistical significant correlation between the method of prevention and a series of demographic criteria such as age (p<0.02), age of marriage (p<0.02), total number of pregnancies (p<0.0016), total number of children (p<0.001), level of education (p<0.0006), level of hosband’s education (p<0.0099) hosband’s occupation (p<0.00001), residential place (p<0.00001) and living conditions p<0.0001. Çonclusion: ÏÜD was the most common method of prevention in the society under investigation and there was a positive attitude towards family planning. Ïnstruction about the selection of proper method and reduction of side effect is recommended, which is better to start it prior to marriage.