Awareness, Attitudes, and Contraceptive Acceptance Among Women Attending a Tertiary-Care Center in Delhi: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: High contraceptive awareness does not always translate into favorable attitudes or actual uptake, particularly when family influence, misconceptions, and concerns about adverse effects shape reproductive decisions.Objective: This study aimed to assess family planning awareness, attitudes, contraceptive acceptance, and factors associated with acceptance among women attending the gynecology outpatient department of a tertiary-care center in Delhi.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 556 women aged 18-48 years who attended the gynecology outpatient department from June 2024 to May 2025 and received family planning counseling.Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered data-collection proforma.Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies, percentages, and Wilson 95% confidence intervals.Associations with contraceptive acceptance were assessed using Pearson's Chi-square test, and effect size was estimated using Cramér's V.Results: Overall, 82.0% of participants were aware of family planning, but only 36.5% had a positive attitude.Following counseling, 313 women (56.3%; 95% CI 52.1-60.4)accepted a contraceptive method.Among acceptors, oral contraceptive pills (40.6%), condoms (28.8%), and copper intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) (17.3%) were chosen.Doctors were the principal source of information for 37.1% of participants.Husband or family opposition accounted for 80.7% of non-acceptance.A favorable opinion toward birth spacing was reported by 68.0%.Acceptance was significantly associated with age group (χ²=58.90,p < 0.001; Cramér's V = 0.325) and obstetric category (χ² = 13.50, p = 0.009; Cramér's V = 0.156), but not with educational status (χ² = 6.29, p = 0.099).Conclusion: Despite high awareness, a substantial gap between awareness and contraceptive acceptance persisted.Person-centered counseling addressing misconceptions and family-related barriers may improve informed and voluntary contraceptive acceptance.