We studied knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding contraception of 1003 married women (aged 15-49 years) randomly recruited from private clinics (490 women) and community clinics (512 women) in Beirut in the year 2000. A standardized KAP questionnaire was administered to the 2 groups and differences between the groups were analysed. Contraceptive methods were used by two-thirds of the women. The private clinics group reported a significantly higher socioeconomic status and educational level than the community clinics group. Despite the free availability of contraceptive methods in the community clinics, the women's level of knowledge of, attitude towards and practice of contraception was significantly lower than those of women in the private clinics. Knowledge, attitudes and practices toward contraception did not depend on the free availability of contraceptive methods but rather on the socioeconomic and educational level of the women.