Evaluation of a family planning campaign for young and low parity couples in two districts of India: a quasi-experimental study design

Background: India, the most populous country in 2023, reduced its fertility rate to 2.0 through sustained family planning efforts. Despite this, unmet contraceptive needs among young couples remain high. The present study assessed a campaign's impact on enhancing family planning knowledge and self-efficacy among couples in Uttar Pradesh's Banda and Kaushambi districts. Methods: A quasi-experimental, non-randomized, controlled study was conducted with pre-and post-test assessments in Banda and Kaushambi districts, covering young low-parity couples. Sampling involved the systematic random selection of couples from village lists and statistical analysis using the difference-in-difference approach with regression models. The intervention included role plays, SMS campaigns, leaflets, and pre-recorded audio to promote family planning and address contraceptive myths. Results: There were 3067 adults in the intervention group and 3136 in the control group. The knowledge about early marriage and pregnancy increased more in the intervention group compared to the control, along with awareness of intrauterine devices and oral pills. Self-efficacy and attitudes toward family planning also significantly improved post-intervention in the intervention sites. All measures of overall knowledge, perceptions, and contraceptive use increased because of the targeted campaign. Conclusions: The study concluded that comprehensive family planning interventions among couples have a substantial effect on increasing their knowledge and self-efficacy regarding contraceptives. The culture-specific modalities could debunk the myths and help contraceptive users lead to healthier reproductive health. More implementation and development of these inclusive strategies are needed to improve family planning practices, and that can lead to positive health outcomes for the community.