Objective: To assess the awareness and practice of contraception among child bearing women attending tertiary care hospital.

Study design: Cross sectional.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the outpatient department of Gynecology and Obstetrics Liaquat National Medical College and Hospital Karachi, from May 2008 to July 2008.

Methodology: Two hundred women of child bearing age were interviewed regarding their awareness, attitude and practices of contraception. The inquiries were recorded by pre designed questionnaire. Questions regarding methods of contraception known and source of knowledge and their practices were recorded. Convenient sampling was used to distribute questionnaire.

Results: Mean age of the pat ients was 29.88 years (SD 6.38 years) . 73% of the women were educated, and majority of them were Muslims. Awareness was seen regarding contraception in 81% of the women interviewed but only 49% practiced any method. Barrier method of contraception was the most popular method known and practiced. Media seemed to be the major source of information (64.5%). In response to the reason for non use, majority feared side effects (56.8%). Major reason for use of contraception was spacing (47.9%). Majority (77.5%) of women had assertive attitude towards contraception.

Conclusions: There is a gap between awareness and practice of contraception. Despite having knowledge the compliance is low. One of the major factors among reasons of non use of contraception is fear of side effects.