Awareness and Use of Contraceptive Methods among Tribal Women: A Study of the Purigpa Tribe in Kargil Ladakh, India

Contraceptive use helps reduce maternal morbidity and mortality while improving family well-being. Awareness of contraceptive methods is essential for their acceptance and effective use, enabling women to make informed family planning and reproductive health decisions. This study sought to assess the level of awareness and the patterns of contraceptive method utilization among Purigpa tribal women aged 15–49 years in Kargil District, Union Territory of Ladakh, India.

The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design. A community-based survey was conducted using a random sampling method to select 60 Purigpa tribal women of reproductive age (18-45 years) from two blocks of Kargil District (Sankoo and TSG blocks), Ladakh. Information on awareness and use of contraceptive methods was collected through an interviewer-administered structured interview schedule. Frequencies and percentages were used to analyze the data.

The majority of participants (50%) were aged 24–33 years, followed by those aged 18–24 years (20%). Overall, 83.34% of women were aware about one method of family planning, and about 80% were currently using contraception. The highest awareness was reported for condoms (male condom) (41.66%), followed by IUCDs (13.34%), oral pills (6.66%), and traditional methods (8.38%). Approximately 20% of women were unaware of any contraceptive methods. Male condoms were the greatest frequently used contraceptive method among the respondents, accounting for 41.66% of contraceptive use. Around 50% of the respondents stated that they were not currently adopting contraceptive methods due to infrequent sexual activity.

The study concludes that, despite the high level of awareness of contraceptive methods among women, the actual use of contraception was also relatively high. There is no significant correlation was found between educational status and the use of contraceptive methods.