GENDER BASED CONTRACEPTION AWARENESS AND PRACTICE: STUDY FROM A CENTRE IN NORTH-EAST INDIA.

Background: To prevent the growth of population contraception practices is important. Both male and females should take active participation. Objective: To study the awareness regarding contraception in the male and female participants and the practices among the gender. To know the awareness regarding the gender based contraceptives available in the region of Shillong, North East India. Method: It is a cross sectional study conducted during an awareness programme. Voluntary participants are asked to fill a questionnaire. Data in the form of age, parity, address, awareness regarding any method of contraception, practice of contraceptives. Result: A total of 140 participants, 90 male and 50 female. Both for male and female the most common age group was 26-30years. 26(28.89%) male and 29(58%) female were in the age group 26-30 years. 86(95.56%) of males are aware of at least one type of contraceptive method. Female participant; 46(92%) are aware of at least one type of contraception (p=0.385). In the male group 41(45.56%) practiced contraception and 38(76%) of the females practiced contraception, P=0.0005. Among all the participants, 129(92.14%) are aware of condom. 87(62.14%) of the participants are aware of the female method of birth spacing ie IUCD, Oral contraceptive pills and hormonal injectable. Conclusion: Contraceptive practices were more among the female and awareness regarding the male method (condom) of contraceptive was more, though its practice is less. Thus there should be more awareness campaign regarding the various female methods available and other benefits of condom must be promoted in order to encourage its use.