Effects of family planning education given to married illiterate women of reproductive age via visual material support on family planning related attitudes and contraceptive preferences: the example of Viranşehir, Türkiye.

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the effects of family planning education given to married illiterate women of reproductive age via visual material support on their family planning attitudes and contraceptive preferences.

Method: The randomized controlled study was carried out between 31 January and 31 July 2023. The sample of the study consisted of 148 women, including 74 in the experimental group and 74 in the control group. Using a Family Planning Education Booklet prepared for illiterate women, an education program lasting a week in total was held in three sessions. No intervention was made in the control group. Data were collected using a Personal Information Form, a Family Planning Assessment Form, and the Family Planning Attitude Scale.

Results: After the intervention, the Family Planning Attitude Scale total and subscale scores of the participants were significantly higher in the experimental group compared to both their pretest scores and the posttest scores of the control group (p < 0.001). There was an increase in the rates of participants who preferred modern and effective family planning methods in the experimental group after the education program. All participants in the experimental group stated that they were satisfied with the education given within the scope of the study.

Conclusion: The family planning education program provided to women using educational content prepared for illiterate women was effective in increasing the knowledge and positive attitudes of the women regarding family planning.