Contraceptive preferences among women with sickle cell disease during a 12-month follow-up: a prospective study

Abstract

Objectives: to analyze the choice and continuation rate of contraceptive methods in women with sickle cell disease (SCD). Methods: an exploratory prospective study was conducted at a hospital enrolling 44 women with SCD aged 15-40 years old. After contraceptive counseling, the women selected one of the available contraceptive methods and separated into two groups, and were followed up at one, three, six, and 12 months. To analyze the continuation rate of contraceptive use, the two groups were: group (G1) using progestin-only contraceptives, through any route of administration and group (G2) using other contraceptive methods (combined hormonal and non-hormonal contraceptives). The continuation rate was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, considering a p<0.05. Results: after contraceptive counseling, most women opted for any progestin-only methods: injectable contraceptives (n=18; 40.9%), oral contraceptives (n=7; 15.9%), or intrauterine devices (n=3; 6.8%). The continuation rate decreased in both groups during the 12-months follow-up period. In the G1, the continuation rate was 60.7% (CI95%=40.4-76.0), while that in the G2 was 68.7% (CI95%= 40.5-85.6) with no significant difference between the groups (p=0.641). Conclusions: the overall continuation rates in both groups were satisfactory. No significant difference in the continuation rate of contraceptive methods was observed between the groups, although most women preferred progestin-only methods.