Background: Sterilization is most widely used fertility regulation method in Nepal. However, prevalence of
uptake of female sterilization in central hilly region is less than the national average. The objective of the study
was to explore the number and factors related to intention of married women to undergo female sterilization in
rural Kathmandu which lies within central hilly region.
Materials and Methods: This is a community based cross-sectional survey research conducted in rural area of
Kathmandu valley. Two hundred and forty currently married women with at least one child of any age were
interviewed using a structured pre-tested questionnaire.
Results: More than four-fifth of the respondents intended to undergo sterilization. Almost two-third of them
wanted to limit their family size by taking this option. More than one-third of women not-intending to undergo
sterilization feared weakness after sterilization. Age of the respondents, duration of marriage, and number of
living children were significantly associated with intention to undergo sterilization. 15-24 years age group
were six times more likely to have the intention for sterilization (OR 6.79, CI 2.28-20.19) compared to age 35
years and above group. Mothers with less than 3 living children are about three times more likely to have the
intention to undergo sterilization (OR 2.87, CI 1.3-6.33) compared to women with more than 2 living children.
Women married for 6 to 10 years were three times more likely to have the intention (OR 3.0, CI 1.09-8.27).
However, gender of the living children was not associated with intention to undergo sterilization.
Conclusion: There were significant numbers of women intending to undergo sterilization. Age of the mother,
number of living children and the duration of marriage were found to be significantly influencing the intention
to undergo sterilization. However, as intention refers to future plan, the respondents’ intention may change
over time. The national family planning program also needs to identify the key factors in accepting the
sterilization and target these women to increase utilization