Community-based educational intervention on necklace method as a natural family planning amongst reproductive age group women in India.
Jyothi Ramesh, Ramesh Chandrababu
PMID 31406797WHAT IT FOUND
Educating 120 rural Indian women about the necklace method and CycleBeads raised knowledge and practice scores one week later.
It did not show that the method prevents unintended pregnancy.
Key findings
01After one week, knowledge scores rose by a mean difference of 5.36 and practice scores by 4.84; the paper reported both changes as statistically significant.
02Before education, all 120 participants had inadequate knowledge and poor practice; after education, 98 (81%) had adequate knowledge and 84 (64%) had good practice.
03A positive correlation of 0.636 was found between knowledge and practice, but neither was associated with demographic variables.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study used pre- and post-test measurements in one sample, and it does not describe a separate control group. The post-test was only one week after education, so it does not show whether knowledge or practice lasted. The outcomes were knowledge and practice scores, not actual unintended pregnancy rates or long-term method use. Participants were selected purposively from rural Bangalore, and all had no previous knowledge of the method, so the results may not apply to other settings or women who already knew it. The paper reports 30% average and 64% good practice at post-test, but it does not describe the remaining participants. The assessment tools were developed by the researchers, and the paper does not say whether outcome assessment was blinded.
Declared interests
The research did not receive a specific grant from public, commercial or not-for-profit funding agencies, and the authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the improved knowledge and practice scores as proof that the necklace method prevents unintended pregnancy. The study measured scores only one week after education and did not report pregnancy outcomes.