Medical students’ knowledge and perception toward family planning services: A preliminary intervention study
نویسندگان
1 Unit of Community Medicine, Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology, Kedah, Malaysia
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4 Departments of Community Medicine and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Malacca
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doi
چکیده
INTRODUCTION: Family planning and contraception is the effective strategy to reduce maternalmortality, child mortality, abortion, and unwanted pregnancies. Since the medical students are thefuture doctors, it is important to have proper knowledge and training on family planning services. Thisstudy aimed to explore the effect of teaching‑learning process at maternal and child health (MCH)clinics on the students’ knowledge, perceptions toward contraception methods, and family planningcounselling.METHODS: This quasi‑experimental study was conducted in the private medical institution inMalaysia. The same questionnaire was used to administer twice, before and after the posting.Moreover, a qualitative question on the issues related to family planning and contraception utilizationsin Malaysia was added to the after posting survey. The quantitative data were analyzed using IBMSPSS (version 20) and qualitative data by RQDA software.RESULTS: A total of 146 participants were recruited in this study. Knowledge on contraceptionmethod before posting was 5.11 (standard deviation [SD] ±1.36) and after posting was6.35 (SD ± 1.38) (P < 0.001). Thematic analysis of the students’ answer revealed four salientthemes, which were as follows: (1) cultural barrier, (2) misconception, (3) inadequate knowledge,and (4) improvement for the health‑care services.CONCLUSIONS: The teaching‑learning process at the MCH posting has an influence on theirperception and upgraded their knowledge. It also reflects the role of primary health‑care clinics onmedical students’ clinical exposure and training on family planning services during their postings.
