6.7% practice family planning. Findings of a baseline survey of knowledge, attitudes and practice in a Tanzanian village.

PIP: This article contains the findings of a 1990 knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) survey conducted in Mgeta, a subdivision of the rural district of Morogoro, Tanzania. The Family Planning Association of Tanzania (UMATI) carried out the survey with the goal of obtaining baseline information with which to measure the success of an Integrated Family Planning, Nutrition, and Parasite Control (IP) Project, scheduled to be introduced in Mgeta following the survey. UMATI interviewed 310 people (113 males and 197 females) from Mgeta, who comprised 5% of the total target population. The majority of the respondents were between the ages of 20-45, had completed primary education, and made a living from farming. They were also predominantly Roman Catholic. With 4/5 of the respondents already having at least 1 child, the average number of preferred children was 6. 16.5% of the respondents reported that they or their partner had undergone at least 1 abortion. 1/3 (104) of the respondents were aware of a method--modern or otherwise--for preventing unwanted pregnancies. But only 13.8%of all those surveyed (41.3% of those who were aware of family planning) had ever used contraception, and only 6.7% of all the respondents were using contraception at the time of the survey. Despite the low contraceptive prevalence, the overwhelming majority of those with knowledge of family planning believed it is important for improving family and child health, and that is not contrary to their religious beliefs. These findings suggest that in addition to raising awareness, communication programs must also emphasize motivation. The survey also highlights the problem of abortion, which is more widely practiced than contraception, and reveals a positive attitude towards family planning.^ieng