Abstract:
This paper is about Rural Households’ Perceived Contributions of family planning in fostering sustainable rural development in Jamma District, South Wollo Zone, Amhara regional governmental state of Ethiopia”. It explores awareness of the public on the relationship between family planning and sustainable rural development, generally undergoing practices, practical contribution, challenges encountered in practice family planning methods, the perceived impact of overpopulation and family planning and existing opportunities. Qualitative and explanatory research methods have been employed. Review of related literatures, policies, official documents and study report papers, structured interviews of the woreda’s inhabitants such as elders, religions leaders, household heads, teachers, students and farmers were the methods used to collect data. To do this semi-structured questioner distributed, randomly sampled household based interview, focus group discussions at different level, key-informant interview has been conducted. Relevant analysis methods were used analysis. In this study it has been found a moderate level of awareness about family planning. Religion and culture were found to affect the perception of individuals on family planning. There is very little institutional support and advocacy to promote family planning in the study area.This study provides important data on the perception, practice and challenges of the rural population on family planning as a tool to foster development. The results ofthis study are important for national and regional policy makers, legislators and development advocates. The study recognizes the Ethiopia, family planning services achievements, which began its operation in the 1966 with the establishment of the Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia (FGAE), an International Planned Parenthood Federation affiliate. With the growing interest not until the 1980s did the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) add family planning to its maternal and child health program. The study also discover how in the recent years, many Ethiopian political and social leaders, including the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, remain concerned with the rate of population growth, as population has doubled since the late 1980s, Whereas there are still challenges, starting from awareness until the interested nation strategic intervention of the FM programs. Local interests, positive perception, community involvement international partnership, national policies are also taken as opportunities. Yet there is still the need for strong multi-stallholders platform, wider advocacy and selectively empowered intervention are forwarded as recommendation.
