Choices on contraceptive methods in post-abortion family planning clinic in the northeast Brazil

Abstract

BackgroundIn Brazil, a Ministry of Health report revealed women who underwent an abortion were predominantly in the use of contraceptive methods, but mentioned inconsistent or erroneously contraceptive use. Promoting the use of contraceptive methods to prevent unwanted pregnancies is one of the most effective strategies to reduce abortion rates and maternal morbidity and mortality. Therefore, providing post-abortion family planning services that include structured contraceptive counseling with free and easy access to contraceptive methods can be suitable. So the objective of this study is to determine the acceptance and selection of contraceptive methods followed by a post-abortion family planning counseling.MethodsA cross-sectional study was carried out from July to October 2008, enrolling 150 low income women to receive post-abortion care at a family planning clinic in a public hospital located in Recife, Brazil. The subjects were invited to take part of the study before receiving hospital leave from five different public maternities. An appointment was made for them at a family planning clinic at IMIP from the 8th to the 15th day after they had undergone an abortion. Every woman received information on contraceptive methods, side effects and fertility. Counseling was individualized and addressed them about feelings, expectations and motivations regarding contraception as well as pregnancy intention.ResultsOf all women enrolled in this study, 97.4% accepted at least one contraceptive method. Most of them (73.4%) had no previous abortion history. Forty of the women who had undergone a previous abortion, 47.5% reported undergoing unsafe abortion. Slightly more than half of the pregnancies (52%) were unwanted. All women had knowledge of the use of condoms, oral contraceptives and injectables. The most chosen method was injectables, followed by oral contraceptives and condoms. Only one woman chose an intrauterine device.ConclusionThe acceptance rate of post-abortion contraceptive methods was greater and the most chosen method was the best-known one. Implementing a specialized family planning post abortion service may promote an acceptance, regardless of the chosen method. Most important is they do receive contraception if they do not wish for an immediate pregnancy.

Sociodemographic and reproductive profile of women with abortion complications in hospital in Recife

“…Generally women who live in large urban centers have greater access to abortion methods, abortion clinics as well as to health services 14 . Most of the women in this study had no previous abortion and this also occurred in another study at the same service between 2008 and 2010 15 . This finding may reflect on the existence of sub-reports on previous abortion, due to restrictive laws about abortion in Brazil like in most countries in Latin America, which makes them less likely to report previous abortions 16 .…”

Practices and Perceptions on Contraception Acceptance among Clients Availing Safe Abortion Services in Nepal

“…Hence, just hearing about availability of the methods may not be adequate to translate into the behaviour. 8 This fact was reflected in this study as one -fourth of the respondents had never used any FP.…”

“…Study in Brazil in similar settings of post abortion care has also reported high level of knowledge regarding contraceptive services but low level of consistent use of the contraceptive measures. 8 Moreover, having onefifth of the women not using contraception, vast majority of them from the most accessible place of the country, reflects that there is more need to give complete education and adequate skills to start the use and continuation of available contraceptive services.…”

Contraceptive counseling in Turkey after induced abortion

“…In a cross-sectional study at a family-planning clinic in Brazil, 97.4% of women of low economic status accepted a contraceptive method after postabortion counseling [18]. The most frequently chosen method was injectable contraceptives, followed by oral contraceptives and condoms [18].…”