Family planning and birth control are vital components of public health, directly influencing maternal wellbeing and sustainable population management. This study examined how gender and place of residence influence family planning perception and birth control practice among married adults in Ranchi, Jharkhand. A cross-sectional design was employed with 80 married participants, equally divided by gender, selected via purposive sampling from urban and rural localities. Validated instruments measured contraceptive perception and behavioral practice, with data analyzed using independent t-tests and Pearson’s correlation. Results revealed that females scored significantly higher than males on both family planning perception and birth control practice. Similarly, urban residents demonstrated significantly greater perception and practice scores compared to rural counterparts. A strong positive correlation emerged between perception and practice, confirming that favorable attitudes and knowledge substantially predict contraceptive adoption. These findings underscore that demographic and residential contexts critically shape reproductive health decision-making. To bridge existing gaps, public health programs must integrate gender-sensitive counseling, enhance rural service accessibility, and foster spousal communication. Despite methodological limitations, these insights highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions. Aligning community outreach with evidence-based behavioral strategies will optimize national family planning outcomes across diverse populations.
Dr. Safeena Naaz (Thu,) studied this question.