Factors affecting acceptability of long-acting contraceptive injections in a rural Egyptian Community

Abstract

SummaryThis study was carried out in four adjacent villages in Lower Egypt with a combined population of 24,000. A team of social workers and physicians worked together to introduce the injectable contraceptive depomedroxyprogesterone acetate as a post-partum long-acting contraceptive to the community leaders and the villagers at several meetings. Postpartum women who agreed to use the drug were defined as acceptors (591) and those who did not were defined as rejectors (715). The incidence of polygamy was higher among the rejectors, and rejectors' husbands had more children from their other wives. Acceptors had more previous pregnancies and children of both sexes than rejectors. The interval between the last two pregnancies was shorter among the rejectors. A greater percentage of acceptors had previously used another contraceptive. The commonest reasons for rejection were desire for further pregnancy (69%), health problems (11%) and desire for another method of contraception (8%). Religious factors figured in only 3% of cases.