Report on: Family Planning knowledge of Jongli village Prepared by Mr. Shafayet Islam ID: 1120741
Submitted to Mr. Iftekhar Mahfuz Instructor, LFE, Sec: 04, Lecturer, School of Business Independent University, Bangladesh
Date of Submission: 29 th May, 2014 May 29, 2014. To Mr. Iftekhar Mahfuz Lecturer, School of Business Independent University, Bangladesh Dhaka
Subject: Letter of Transmittal Dear Sir, With due honor I would like to inform you that I want to submit my Live-in Field-Experience (LFE) report, which was performed from 25th April to 6th May 2014 in Natore, jointly organized by Independent University, Bangladesh and Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS). My area of survey was Boro Jongli & Hindu Para of Jongli village in Natore Sadar. I have performed the survey as I was instructed. Even though it was a bit hectic I have enjoyed it thoroughly. I tried to analyze the obtained data correctly as possible. This event and the experience that I gained will help me in the area of practical research. I hope that the enclosed information will be helpful and self-explanatory to get a clear idea about Jongli village. I therefore looking forward to you that my report will be able to achieve your approval. If you need any kind of clarifications I will be ready to do so.
Yours Sincerely, Md. Shafayet Islam ID: 1120741
Acknowledgement I, Md. Shafayet Islam have completed my survey on Jongli village, a micro unit of whole Live in Field Experience (LFE) Summer, 2011 survey under the supervision of our teacher Mr. Iftekhar Mahfuz (SB), Mr. Suman Prosad Saha (SB), Ms. Shaila Shams (SLASS) and with my group member which was performed from 25th April to 6th May 2014 in Natore, jointly organized by Independent University, Bangladesh and Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS) of Natore. Our staying at TMSS while performing our survey was amazing. We got all kind of help from the organizing host institution and our LFE coordinators. Our teachers were very friendly with us along with TMSS authority. My learning and experience from the LFE would be very useful in my future career. For this reason, firstly I would love to thank our LFE instructors Mr. Iftekhar Mahfuz, Mr. Suman Prosad Saha, Ms. Shaila Shams for guiding us throughout the LFE. Thanks to all the staff of TMSS for taking good care of us and cooperate with us in all those twelve days, specially thanks to Mr. Mohosin ali and Anwar Hossain for guiding us during the survey in Boro jongli and Hindu para in Jongli village. I am grateful to our four monitors Mr. Rakeeb Meem, Mr. Shahadat Jewewl, Ms. Nusrat Jahan Jyote, and Mr. Tanveer Rakib Evan for being beside us to complete our on field and off field works. Thanks to the students of LFE Section: 4 for making it an unforgettable experience and thanks for sharing information regarding LFE. Among them I would love to thank Dilruba Chowdhury for being my partner during the LFE and helping me with the survey and presentation work. I would also love to thank whole Jongli group for being so helpful during the mapping session. My heart full thanks goes to Aman Ahmed, Mohammed Fahim, Arif Mahmood, Adnan Rafid, Mazharul Islam Evan and Aminur rasul niloy as we all shared the same room. Last but not the least I would love to thank all the villagers of Jongli for being very friendly, cooperative and providing me the information I needed. Table of Contents Acknowledgement ..................................................................................................................... 2 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Defining Family Planning ............................................................................................... 1 1.2 Methods of Family Planning ................................................................................................ 2 Natural Family Planning ................................................................................................. 2 Barrier methods condoms, diaphragms and cervical caps .............................................. 2 Pills ................................................................................................................................. 3 An injection ..................................................................................................................... 3 Internal Uterine Device (IUD) into her uterus ................................................................ 3 Sterilization ..................................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Current condition of Bangladesh ......................................................................................... 3 1.4 Importance of Family planning ............................................................................................ 4 For women ...................................................................................................................... 4 For children: .................................................................................................................... 5 For men: .......................................................................................................................... 5 For families ..................................................................................................................... 5 For Couple: ..................................................................................................................... 6 For nation: ....................................................................................................................... 6 Economic benefits:.......................................................................................................... 6 2.0 Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 7 2.1 Village Name ....................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Area Name: .......................................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Sample Size .......................................................................................................................... 7 2.5 Data Collection Method ....................................................................................................... 7 Primary Data: .............................................................................................................. 8 Structured Interview: ............................................................................................... 8 Unstructured Interview: ........................................................................................... 8 Observation:............................................................................................................. 8 Secondary Data: .......................................................................................................... 8 3.0 Social Map ........................................................................................................................... 9 4.0 Family planning knowledge of Jongli villagers ................................................................. 10 4.1 Ways of getting knowledge of Family Planning ................................................................ 11 5.0 Factors affecting knowledge Family Planning .................................................................. 11 Age ................................................................................................................................ 11 Education ...................................................................................................................... 11 No. of son ...................................................................................................................... 12 Religion ......................................................................................................................... 12 Unavailability of birth control ...................................................................................... 12 Expensive ...................................................................................................................... 12 6.0 Recommendation ............................................................................................................... 13 Share the knowledge ..................................................................................................... 13 Educate people .............................................................................................................. 13 Increase Popularity of contraceptive methods .............................................................. 14 7.0 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 14 Annexure .................................................................................................................................. 15
1 1.0 Introduction Family planning is a major concern of a family, society and nation. In a highly populated country like Bangladesh, family planning is very important to stabilize the population growth which is a barrier for nation's improvement. Bangladesh faced no greater problem than population growth. As a developing country Bangladesh needs to control its population growth and utilize the population to build a strong economy to stay in the competition. Family planning is the only way to control the population growth. With the help of family planning Bangladesh can improve education level, economic condition, health and sanitation condition etc. During my LFE (LIVE- in- Field Experience) I had the opportunity to get to know about Natore and the people of Jongli village. I have found out that in some parts of Jongli village people are suffering to improve their living condition. There are many inter-related reasons which are hindering people to improve their living condition. One of the possible reasons is that "Lack of knowledge about Family Planning" of local people. 1.1 Defining Family Planning To understand family planning first we need to know what a 'Family' is. A family is group of people consisting of two parents and their children living together as a unit. In other words, a family is a group of two or more people that are related by blood, marriage (registered or de facto), adoption, step or fostering, and who usually live together in the same household. To plan the construction of a family can be considered as family planning.
2 Family planning is the voluntary planning and action taken by individuals to prevent, delay or achieve a pregnancy. Family planning mainly describes birth control. When parents plan the number of child and timing of getting child this can be described as family planning. In our life we plan every single thing to have a better organized life. Children are the most important part of people's life. So, people need to plan for their children. Without planning for a child a family can suffer in a various ways. Most importantly the child will suffer in the life. In this report, I tried to put some light on the present condition of Jongli village and tried to found out the reasons behind this situation. I also tried to find some ways to overcome this situation in future. 1.2 Methods of Family Planning There are several methods of family planning available to couples not ready to start a family. The methods differ greatly. It is good to completely understand all the available options when making a choice on birth control. Natural Family Planning Woman can take hints from the bodys natural fertility signs and follow their menstrual cycles to know when they are most likely fertile. During those times intimacy is avoided to prevent pregnancy. This method is not always accurate, but it does offer a hormone and chemical free alternative. Barrier methods condoms, diaphragms and cervical caps Condoms are now available for men and women. All barrier methods of family planning are made more effective with the use of spermicides. Spermicides are liquids, foams, or films that contain a chemical to kill sperm. The barrier method works well as prevent pregnancy, but can cause sex to lose some spontaneity.
3 Pills Birth control pills are taken once daily to prevent pregnancy. The same medication in the pill is also available as a patch worn on the womans skin or a ring inserted into the vagina. Both are worn for three week and then removed for one week during menstruation. An injection Depo-Provera is a shot given to women every three months to prevent pregnancy. This method of family planning is highly effective. Internal Uterine Device (IUD) into her uterus An IUD is a T shaped device made of either plastic or copper and may stay in uterus up to twelve years, however if family plans change the IUD can be removed at any time by a doctor. Sterilization Men and women can decide on surgical sterilization as a permanent method of family planning. Men receive an outpatient procedure called, vasectomy, where the tubes that carry sperm out the urethra are clipped. Women also get tubes clipped in a tubal ligation to stop ovaries from entering the uterus. This is an operation that does require hospitalization and recovery time. 1.3 Current condition of Bangladesh Bangladesh has the third largest population in South Asia, after India and Pakistan. In July 2011, the results of Bangladeshs fifth population census were released. The population now stands at 142.3 million people, nearly double the countrys 1974 statistic and 18 million more than 10 years ago. This level of growth is approximately equivalent to an annual population growth rate of 1.34% over the past decade. The population density has increased from 834 to
4 964 people per square kilometer. About one-third of Bangladeshis live in urban areas; at the current growth rate, it is projected that by 2040 the total population will balloon to 230 million people where 52% will live in urban areas. The average household size in Bangladesh is 4.4 persons per family, down from 4.8 in 2001 and 5.5 in 1991. The average Bangladeshi woman now has 2.15 children compared to 5.1 children in 1981. Traditionally in the developing world, having large families is like an insurance policy against illness and poverty in old age. Clearly, a shift has occurred in the attitude towards family planning, but it is not enough to head off the potentially catastrophic effects of a rapidly increasing population against a markedly slower food production rate. The Government of Bangladesh drafted a population policy in 2009 seeking to introduce and promote the concept of a single-child family by 2015, but it has not taken assertive enough strides to achieve that goal. From the above information we can understand that Bangladesh is working on population control but this topic should get more emphasis. Because proper family planning can not only improve family condition but also improves overall nation's condition. 1.4 Importance of Family planning For women Family planning helps women to protect themselves from unwanted, too early, too late and too frequent and too many pregnancies. These types of pregnancies are risk for health for women. In other ways family planning program saves lives of many women by preventing high-risk pregnancy and unsafe abortion. It is estimated that if all women could avoid high- risk pregnancies, the number of maternal death could fall by one quarter. It has been discovered that family planning has other health related benefits for women besides
5 preventing unintended pregnancies. For example: combined oral cramps and pain, and even help to prevent several type of cancer. Condom help prevent STDs/HIV transmission. Similarly family planning also helps women to continue education, learn skillful training and develop career to improve overall quality of life. For children: Family planning saves the lives of children by helping women space births. A study by researcher at the Demographic Health Survey program finds that children born 3 years or more after a previous births are healthier at birth and more likely to survive at all stages of infancy and childhood through age five. It is estimated that between 13 and 15 million children under age 5 die each year. If all children were born at least 2 years apart, 3 to 4 million of these deaths would be avoided. For men: Family planning method especially condom helps men to protect STDs/HIV for themselves as well as for their spouses. If a man uses family planning to protect pregnancy, it would be one of the good supports to their spouse in reproductive health and better live of whole family members being the main responsible person of the family. Family planning helps men to educate children, provide nutritious food, less money to provide treatment for ill health and too many deliveries and less absenteeism form office and regular work. For families Family planning improves overall quality of life of family members. Couples with fewer children are in a better position to provide quality education, good food, clothing and shelter. This will ultimately help to enjoy life.
6 For Couple: Family planning improves overall quality of life of family members, couples with fewer children are in a better position to provide quality education good food, clothing and shelter. This will ultimately help to enjoy the family life. For nation: Family planning helps a nation to improve status of economics and overall development by reducing child and mother death, providing opportunity develop career for men and women, giving good schooling to children especially women, there will be chance to have good food for people. These all factors will help to develop nation. Economic benefits: Investing in family planning opens a window of opportunity for faster economic growth in nations as a whole by reducing fertility and changing the population's age structure and dependency ratio. As the number of workers increase relative to the number of children they must support, saving and investment can increase. Investing in family planning also cuts the cost of social services as for example fewer children attend school and fewer, healthier pregnant women seek antenatal and delivery care, depending on which social services offered, each dollar spend on family planning may save government up to US $ 31 in expenditure on health, education, food, housing, water sewage and the like. Slower population growth also places less stress on limited natural resources, including fresh water and arable land.
7 2.0 Methodology This report is fully based on the information that was collected during the thirteen days of LFE at Natore. At Natore we were divided in three groups to cover up three villages Jongli, Akdala and Bonbelghuria. GROUP 16 was our pair number and we were instructed to do the survey in pair. Our survey location was Jongli village. 2.1 Village Name As the part of Jongli group we (20 students 10 pair groups) were sent to Jongli village under Natore sadar. 2.2 Area Name: We were instructed to survey Boro Jongli of Jongli village. 2.3 Sample Size I and my partner had to accomplish survey of 10 households, 5 of each during the time of field work and in this report I am going to use this sample of 10 households to do the analysis. 2.5 Data Collection Method The data represented on the report were collected from primary and secondary data sources. In primary source I have used the structured and unstructured interview system and observation. Secondary data source has been used as well.
8 Primary Data: Primarily the data was collected using Structured, unstructured interview, observation. Structured Interview: I have done the survey as I was instructed to do from IUB. And I have successfully completed doing survey entitled as IUB Health and Socio Economic Survey on 10 households. IUB provided the structured questionnaire to conduct the survey. Unstructured Interview: I have also interviewed the members of my surveyed household to know more about my chosen report topic and the surveyed area. I talked with some senior citizen of that village. I also talked with teachers of BRAC School, Primary School and Madrassa. Observation: I have also look around and explored the area to know more about the people and the surrounding of Jongli village. And observed the villagers lifestyle. Secondary Data: To make this report I have also took the help of internet and went to few websites to extract relevant information related to my topic.
9 3.0 Social Map
Figure 3.1: Social map of Jongli village Social map is the map that gives you a guideline of a society (figure 3.1). In the village the position of everything can be found from social map. It helped me site my survey households and landmarks like mosque and schools helped me to locate where I am at the very beginning. By observing and discussing with the members of Jongli village we have formed this Social map. I also collected the map made by government.
Figure 3.2: Social map of Jongli village (govt.)
10 4.0 Family planning knowledge of Jongli villagers Jongli is a very big village. There are several parts in the village and all those are known by the people who are living there. Most of the people of Jongli village came from other parts of the country and started living here. There are comilla para, bogra para, choto jongli, boro jongli. I along with my partner observed the whole village but our households were in boro jongli. There were two important parts of boro jongli and those are guchogram and hindupara. While observing the village I noticed that guchogram was more populated than any other parts of the village. In every family there were more than two children. Moreover they had less amount of land to live in. That is why that part was denser than others. So, I tried to know if they have any idea about family planning. But it was really shocking that they have idea about family planning but they are not interested in using those. But in hindupara people are more concerned about family planning. They have not more than two children. There are certainly many reasons behind this situation. I tried to focus on those in the latter part of the report. For me it was quite challenging to extract the information from a casual conversation about how they are taking action about family planning. The Jongli villagers were very cordial and humble enough they cooperated by all means and help me to come up with the courage to make this report.
11 4.1 Ways of getting knowledge of Family Planning There are mainly two ways of getting knowledge about family planning. They are listed below: Government initiative: Government is demotivating people to get more children by two slogans- "Two is good enough boy or girl" and "One child is good, but no more than two". Working of NGOs: A lot of NGOs is working on this problem like BRAC, TMSS, and RDA etc. 5.0 Factors affecting knowledge Family Planning Age Age is a barrier for family planning. While our survey in Jongli village we saw that people got married at a very early age and for that reason they did not have any idea about family planning. For example: Mr. Fazar Ali and his wife Hosne Ara was under aged while they got married. As a result they have no idea about family planning and they gave birth to 6 children. On the other hand Shubash saha and his wife Rina saha got married after getting 20 years old so they had clear idea about family planning. Education Education rate is very low in the villages. We noticed that in Jongli village male children do not go to school but female children go to school more. But this is the recent scenario of education. The people on whom we surveyed were not learned at all. For example: Lokman Gazi and his wife Kurshida begum were illiterate. That is why they have no idea about family planning and they gave birth to 5 children. On the other hand Shubash saha and his wife Rina saha were well educated and they had only two children.
12 No. of son In Jongli village we saw that people want more male child. Because most of them are farmers and they think that if they had a boy he would have earned for them. So, if their first two or three children are female they keep getting babies to get a male child. They also think a boy will look after them when they will grow old. So this is also a barrier for family planning. Religion While doing our survey we talked with a lot of people. And in Jongli village most of them are Muslims. But the problem was they believe that they should not use any methods of family planning. So, somehow this hampers the acceptance of family planning. Unavailability of birth control There are a lot of methods for birth control but in Jongli village those are not available. In guchogram there is no dispensary. So, people have to go to Tebaria bazar to get any kind of precaution. This decreases the interest among them to use any methods for birth control. Expensive Some people of Jongli village think that family planning is very expensive. They can hardly manage money for food. So, they do not want to expense money for any kind of medicine.
13 6.0 Recommendation Share the knowledge In every year IUB organizes LFE for the student to collect the data from the same people as it is a longitudinal survey. But while doing the survey if students are encouraged to share their knowledge about family planning, education, health and sanitation etc. then the condition of the village people might improve. I along with my partner went to BRAC School to share our ideas about health and sanitation with the children.
Figure 6.1: Sharing ideas with kids at BRAC School Educate people Education is the key factor to get rid of this problem. Government and NGOs are taking initiative to educate the young kids of the locality. But they should educate the adult people also. If the parents do not know the importance of education, health, family planning then they cannot teach their children.
14 Increase Popularity of contraceptive methods There need to increase popularity to contraceptive methods among the rural as well as urban population, the following measures should be considers- Emphasis on social mobilization approach at community and district level as a strong tool concerning on family planning. Every married couple should be given opportunity in the educational session during their visit in the family planning center. Government facilities as well as non-government organizations should supplied in free of cost in all over Bangladesh. Train more health personnel and volunteers on family planning counseling. And family planning distribution. There need to develop training curriculum on condom negotiation skills and other communication skill to all development workers including politician for active involvement of the male participation. Various Information, Education and Communication activities should be develop for literate and illiterate population on Family Planning. 7.0 Conclusion Natore is a very beautiful place and it has a lot of potentials to become a very important part of our economy. For that the population growth of Natore mainly in villages has to be controlled. Along with this the literacy rate has to be increased. In Jongli village people are mainly dependent on agriculture. They grow sugarcane, maize, peas, rice etc. There are couples of factories in Natore. Those are Natore sugar mills limited, North Bengal sugar mills limited, Pran agro ltd., Jamuna distillery limited. Beside agro based economy Natore has to focus on industry based economy. Every improvement can be done in Natore if the basic problems can be solved. And population growth is the main problem. Before trying to solve other problems this problem has to minimize.
15 Annexure
I. Wikipedia: Natore (2014), Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natore_District II. Demographics of Bangladesh, Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Bangladesh#Fertility III. World Health Organization, Available at: http://www.who.int/ IV. Population control and urban family control Bangladesh: http://urbanpoverty.intellecap.com/ V. Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha, Available at: http://www.tmss-bd.org/ VI. Bangladesh bureau of statistics, Available at: http://www.bbs.gov.bd/home.aspx VII. Directorate General of Family Planning, Available at: http://www.dgfpmis.org/ VIII. Family planning association of Bangladesh, Available at: http://www.fpab.org.bd/