Statement of the Problem This study aimed to determine the acceptability of the family planning methods among married

couples in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur. Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions: 1. What is the profile of the respondents in the terms of: a. Socio-demographic factors 1. gender, 2. place or residence, 3. age, 4. religion, 5. educational attainment, 6. occupation, and, 7. monthly family income; b. Health Related Factors 1. gravidity, 2. parity, 3. number of abortions,, 4. type of delivery, 5. presence and type of disease, 6. presence and type of complication of previous pregnancy, 7. sources of information on the use of artificial family planning methods, and 8. type of artificial family planning method used; 2. What is the level of awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial family planning methods used among married couples in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur? 3. What is the level of acceptability of artificial family planning methods among married couples in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur?

4. Is there a significant relationship between the level of awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial contraceptive methods and the following: a. Socio-demographic factors; and b. Health Related Factors? 5. Is there a significant relationship between the acceptability of artificial family planning methods on the following: a. Socio-demographic factors; and b. Health Related Factors? 6. Is there a significant relationship between the level of awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial contraceptive methods and the acceptability of artificial family planning methods? Scope and Delimitation This study determined the acceptability of artificial family planning methods among married couples as affected by their level of awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial family planning methods in barangays of San Vicente, Ilocos Sur namely Bayubay Sur, Bayubay Norte, Bantaoay, Poblacion, Pudoc, San Sebastian, and Lubong. Specifically, the researchers looked the relationship between the acceptability of artificial family planning methods among married couples and level of awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial family planning methods to the socio-demographic factors and health related profiles of the respondents. The respondents included 200 married couples ages 18 to 45 years who are presently practicing artificial contraceptive methods promoted by the DOH such as hormonal pills, hormonal injections, male condom and intrauterine device The independent variables are the socio-demographic profile of the respondents such as gender, place of residence, age, religion, educational attainment, occupation, monthly family income and health related profiles which include gravidity, parity, number of abortions type of delivery, presence and type of disease, presence and type of complication of previous pregnancy, source of information on the use of artificial family planning method used and the type of artificial family planning method used. The source of information in the use of contraception is multiple in responses. The dependent variable is the acceptability of artificial family planning methods as affected by their level of awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial family planning methods. This study utilized the descriptive correlational method of research and the data were gathered through a questionnaire checklist adopted and modified from the study of Andrion, et,al (2003) on Acceptability of Family Planning Methods among Married Couples in Capangpangan, Vigan City and from Public Health Nursing in The Philippines 10th edition by Frances Prescilla L. Cuevas, augmented with informal interview.

Frequency, percentages, chi-square test and Pearson moment of correlation were employed in the analysis and interpretation of data as well as the relationship of each variable. Conceptual Framework The researchers were guided by the paradigm below: Socio-demographic Factors b. Health Related Factors Level of awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial family planning methods Acceptability of Artificial Family Planning Methods

Research Paradigm The figure shows that acceptability of artificial family planning methods among married couples in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur has been influenced by socio-demographic and health related profile of the respondents and their level of awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of artificial contraceptive methods promoted by the Department of Health. The acceptability of artificial contraceptive methods has been influenced by the socio-demographic and health related profile of the respondents. The level of awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial contraceptive methods was influenced by the socio-demographic profile and health related profile of the respondents.

Operational Definition of Terms Terms that were used in this study are hereby operationally defined for better understanding of the study: Level of Acceptability of Artificial family planning methods. This refers to the level or degree of acceptance in the use of artificial birth control methods such as hormonal pills, hormonal injections, intrauterine device, and male condom promoted by the Department of Health in planning and spacing of children. This is measured in the scale of (5) Strongly accept; (4) Accept; (3) Undecided; (2) Do not accept; (1) Strongly do not accept. Artificial family planning methods. This refers to the modes of controlling the number of children by the use of chemicals such as hormonal pills and hormonal injections and devices or gadgets such as intrauterine device and male condom which are promoted by the Department of Health. Socio-demographic Factors. This refers to the gender, place of residence, age, religion, educational attainment, occupation and monthly family income of the respondents. Gender. This pertains to the personal attribute of the respondents either male or female. Place of Residence. It pertains to the locality, poblacion, agricultural and coastal, where the respondent is living or residing. Age. It refers to the length of time the person is alive. In this study the respondents are aged 18-45 years old Religion. It refers to the established rule of faith whether Catholic or non-Catholic. Educational Attainment. It refers to the highest level of education the husband or wife attained. In this study, it is categorized into no formal education, elementary undergraduate, elementary graduate, high school undergraduate, high school graduate, vocational, college undergraduate, college graduate and post graduate. Occupation. In this study, it refers to the respondents way of earning a livelihood. It is classified as professional, skilled, semi-skilled and no job. Professionals are classified as doctors, nurses, police, engineers, etc. skilled are classified as caregivers, carpenters, etc. semi-skilled are classified as farming, fishing, etc. Monthly Family Income. It refers to the total monthly earning or salary of the members of all family. Health-related factors. In this study, it refers to the gravidity, parity, number of abortions type of deliver, presence and type of disease, presence and type of complication of previous pregnancy, source of information on the use of artificial family planning method used and the type of artificial family planning method used. Gravidity. This pertains to the number of pregnancy or conception. Parity. This refers to the number of live births.

Number of abortions. This refers to the involuntary ending of a pregnancy through the discharge of the fetus from the womb at too early a stage in its development for it to survive. Type of delivery. This pertains to how the last pregnancy was delivered through normal spontaneous delivery or cesarean section. Presence and type of disease. In this study, it refers to the physiologic disturbances that the respondent is presently experiencing which includes hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, cancer, anemia, breast lumps or sexually transmitted diseases. Presence and type of complication of previous pregnancy. In this study, it refers to an attribute of pregnancy which includes multiple pregnancy, bleeding on the first trimester (abortion, ectopic pregnancy), bleeding on the second trimester (H. mole, incompetent cervix), bleeding on the third trimester (abruption placenta, placenta previa), Eclampsia, Preeclampsia and post partum bleeding. Source of information in the use of artificial family planning methods. In this study, it refers to health personnel who include obstetrician/private doctor, nurse and midwife and mass media such as radio, television and other sources. In this study, it is multiple in responses. Level of awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial family planning methods. In this study refers to the extent of knowledge on the benefits and harm in the use of chemicals such as hormonal pills and Depo-Provera and devices/gadgets such as intrauterine devices and condom as birth control methods. This is measured in the scale (5) Strongly aware; (4) Moderately aware; (3) Aware; (2) Uncertain; (1) Not aware. Hypothesis This research study was guided by the hypotheses: 1. There is no significant relationship between the level of awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial contraceptive methods and the following: socio-demographic factors, and Health Related factors. 2. There is no significant relationship between the level of acceptability of family planning methods among married couples and the following: a. Socio-demographic factors b. Health Related Factors. 3. There is no significant relationship between the acceptability of artificial family planning methods and the socio-demographic and health related profile of the respondents as affected by their level of awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial family planning methods. Methodology

This section presents the research design, population sample, data gathering equipment, data gathering technique and procedure, and statistical tools used. Research Design. The research made use o a descriptive-correlational form of research which aimed to find out the acceptability of artificial family planning methods among married couples in San Vicente, Ilocos Sur. A questionnaire-checklist was used as the main instrument in data gathering. Population. This study covered 200 married couples aging 18-45 years old who are presently residing at Bayubay Sur, Bayubay Norte, Bantaoay, Poblacion, Pudoc, San Sebastian, and Lubong and are presently practicing artificial contraceptive methods. The researchers made use of quota sampling of 36 respondents on every barangay. Table 1 presents the breakdown of the population of married couples who are practicing artificial family planning methods. In barangay Pudoc, San Sebastian and Bantaoay, the researchers met the quota sample of 35 respondents because these are the barangays with biggest land areas and population. In barangay Bayubay Sur and Bayubay Norte, the researchers gathered 20 respondents because most of the married couples use natural family planning methods. The researchers gathered 18 and 17 respondents from barangay Poblacion and Lubong because these are small barangays and some of them uses natural and surgical contraceptive methods. Table 1 Distribution of Population by Barangay Barangay Bayubay Sur Bayubay Norte Bantaoay Poblacion Lubong Pudoc San Sebastian Total Number of Respondents 20 20 35 18 17 35 35 200

Data Gathering Instrument. The researchers made use of a questionnaire checklist adapted from the study of Andrion, et al. (2003) and from Public Health Nursing in the Philippines 10 th edition by Frances Prescilla L. Cuevas, validated by their advisers and statistician, and translated from English to Iloco. In gathering information and data, a questionnaire-checklist was utilized as the main instrument. There are three parts of the questionnaire.

Part I consists of the profile of the respondents along socio-demographic factors such as gender, place of residence, age, religion, educational attainment, occupation and monthly family income and the respondents health related profile such as gravidity, parity, number of abortions, type of delivery, presence and type of disease, presence and type of complication of previous pregnancy, and sources of information on the use of artificial family planning methods and type of artificial family planning method used. Part II consists of the questionnaire checklist about the level of awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial family planning methods. The following norms arbitrarily set by the researchers were used in interpreting the level of awareness of the respondents: Range Item 4.21 5.00 3.41 4.20 2.61 3.40 1.81 2.60 1.00 1.80 Descriptive Rating Strongly aware Moderately aware Aware Uncertain Not aware

Part III consists of questionnaire checklist to describe the level of acceptability of the respondents on artificial family planning methods. The following norms arbitrarily set by the researchers were used on the level of acceptability of the respondents: Range Item 4.21 5.00 3.41 4.20 2.61 3.40 1.81 2.60 1.00 1.80 Descriptive Rating Strongly accept Accept Undecided Do not accept Strongly do not accept

Data Gathering Procedure. The researchers secured permission from the mayor of San Vicente, Ilocos Sur and from the barangay captains of Bayubay Sur, Bayubay Norte, Bantaoay, Poblacion, Pudoc, San Sebastian, and Lubong. After permission was granted, the researchers visited them to their houses and administered the questionnaire checklist. The researchers personally assisted the married couples in answering the questionnaire through interview. Statistical Treatment of Data. The data gathered were analyzed and interpreted using the following statistical tools:

Frequencies and percentages to describe the socio-demographic profile, health-related profile of the respondent and the level of awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial contraceptive methods. These were also used to describe the acceptability of artificial family planning methods. Mean was used to describe the level of awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of artificial family planning methods and the level of acceptability of artificial family planning methods. Pearson moment of correlation was used to determine the level of awareness of the advantages and disadvantages of artificial family planning methods and the socio-demographic and health related profile of the respondents. Chi-Square test to determine the relationship between the acceptability of artificial family planning methods and the socio-demographic and health-related profile of the respondents and the level of awareness on advantages and disadvantages of artificial contraceptive methods.

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