Reproductive health issues in Pakistan; do myths take precedence over medical evidence?

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the prevalence of myths pertinent to healthcare issues of females of reproductive age.

METHODS: This cross-sectional, simple descriptive, knowledge, attitude and practices-education research was conducted at the Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, from February to August 2016. A 30-item self-designed questionnaire was applied, collecting demographic details and answers to 21 close-ended questions encompassing the prevalence of myths pertinent to reproductive health issues of women in Pakistan.Every question had three options, Yes(myth), No(correct answer) and Don't Know(unsure). SPSS 21 was used for data analysis.

RESULTS: There were 594 participants in the study. The overall mean age was 35.11±12.711 years and the mean duration of education was 9.41±6.353 years. Besides, >50% answers positive for myths and <50% answers positive for myths were given by 326(54.9%) and 268(45.1%) respondents, respectively. The prevalence of myths was directly proportional to age (p=0.004), and inversely proportional to education (p<0.001) and socio-economic class(p<0.001); impact of education was stronger than socio-economic class(Pearson's chi-square being 74.189 and 48.672, respectively). Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-based respondents harboured more myths (p=0.024). There was no significant impact of marital status (p=0.099).

CONCLUSIONS: The participants held significant amount of myths regarding health issues in reproductive age.