Sharmin Rahman Ami
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Kabita Rani Das
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Daffodil International University; National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology, Dhaka
Roksana Khatun
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Daffodil International University; Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn & Plastic Surgery, Dhaka
Sadia Akter Keya
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Fahmida Akter
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Jannati Jesmin
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Daffodil International University; Green Life Collage of Nursing, Dhaka
Smrity Rani Paul
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Family planning (FP) is essential for improving women's health and well-being by preventing unintendedpregnancies, reducing maternal and infant mortality, and promoting sustainable development. However, manymarried women in Bangladesh do not use FP methods, and there is limited research on the association between FPmethod use and physical health among urban women in the country. This cross-sectional study was conductedamong 370 married women attending primary health care centers in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from September toDecember 2022. Systematic random sampling was used to select participants. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version22. Pearson’s chi-square test was used to assess associations between FP method use and various socio-demographic and physical health factors, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Among the participants, 33.2% usedoral contraceptive pills, 20.3% used injectable methods, and 11.1% used condoms, while 29% did not use any FPmethods. Significant associations were found between FP method use and age (χ2 = 32.61, p = 0.00), with womenaged 26-40 showing the highest usage (43.5%). Monthly income (χ2 = 13.06, p = 0.00), physical activity levels (χ2= 12.59, p = 0.00), menstrual cycle regularity (χ2 = 29.03, p = 0.00), weight changes (χ2 = 13.46, p = 0.01),anorexia (χ2 = 6.59, p = 0.04), and general weakness (χ2 = 7.55, p = 0.00) were also significantly associated withFP method use. This study highlights that age, income, physical activity, menstrual cycle regularity, and physicalhealth conditions such as weight changes, anorexia, and general weakness are key factors influencing FP methoduse among married women in urban Bangladesh. These findings underscore the need for targeted public healthinterventions and education to improve FP uptake and address the associated health impacts on women. Furtherresearch is recommended to explore these relationships on a larger scale.
Family planning method, Married women, Physical health, Public Health, Bangladesh.