Community Participation in Family Planning Program in Bangladesh The Role of the Eligible Couple and Community Leaders

Abstract

Although family planning program in Bangladesh has achieved a
commendable progress, the rapid growth of the population is still a daunting
problem. The major aim of this paper is to analyze the views and narratives of
eligible couples and community leaders to use modern contraceptive methods
as a best means of controlling population growth. An exploratory survey was
conducted among the 658 eligible couple and 120 community leaders in the
sub-district levels of Bangladesh. The findings reveal that the lack of mass
awareness at large and unwillingness of eligible couples to participate in the
family planning program are major problems for a successful family planning
program. The main reasons for not using family planning and modern
contraception are the negative perceptions regarding contraception, sociocultural
barriers, side effects and inadequate of access to these services. The
study concludes that the need for the family planning care provider as well as
the mass accessibility to family planning services may strengthen the existing
family planning program. Addressing issues around accessibility, increase the
use of contraception, recruit required health workers and increase involvement
of eligible couples and community leaders in family planning program are the
best means to solve the problem.