ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at three possible barriers to the use of more effective methods of contraception: first, mothers' principles and religious scruples. Secondly, their knowledge of different methods of contraception and their assessments of the reliability of different methods. Thirdly, their attitudes to different methods and particularly their views about health hazards. The chapter shows how mothers' attitudes to birth control were related to their own and their husbands' religion. Catholic mothers were much less likely to approve of birth control than other mothers but even so more than half of them approved and only a small minority, 14 per cent, were unequivocally against it. The chapter provides mothers' views about the most reliable methods of preventing pregnancy, apart from abstinence. Four-fifths thought the pill was either the most reliable or the next most reliable way. Comparatively few mentioned methods other than the pill, cap, I.U.D. or sheath.
