Study of awareness of contraception in postnatal women

Abstract

Background: This study was undertaken to know the awareness of contraception in postnatal women in a Government Hospital in Maharashtra.Methods: Authors conducted a prospective study in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Government hospital, Miraj between January 2015 to September 2016. All postnatal patients in this hospital, willing to participate in the study were included in the study after a thorough written informed consent. Patients were given pre decided questions for answering. Answers were noted, counselling was done.Results: Out of 4860 women, 97% of the women were aware of at least 1 contraceptive method, the highest being of female sterilization (91%) 20.8% of women had ever used the contraception before and most of them used it in between pregnancies (64.4%). 79.2% had not used any contraception before and main reason for not using was found to be, they wanted to conceive (46%) followed by fear of side effects (24.7%) Regarding willingness to use the contraception after counselling, 48.5% of women said they were not sure. Among rest 51.4% women, female sterilization (32.4%) was preferred method followed by copper-T (22.8%) The most common source of information was by media and books which was 39.3%.Conclusions: There is a large lacuna between the awareness and practice of contraception. Proper education of both partners, increasing female literacy, socio economic upliftment, effective health care system is needed.

Awareness and acceptance of various contraceptive methods among postpartum women in a tertiary care center

“…26 This study is differ from Rokade et al 2018 where most common reason for not using contraception was wanted to conceive (46%) followed by fear of side effects (24.7%),lack of information (23.4%),decision of family (3.9%),husband staying away (2.1%). 11 In present study, significant association (p<0.05) found between education and KAB score. We found that educational status of the women and per capita income were significant predictor of higher level of knowledge about contraception.…”

“…The mean age group in present study population was 24.6 years. This study is contrast to Gaikwad et al 2017, Rokade et al 2018 and Sharma et al 2015 in which majority of women were respectively in age group of 25-34 years, 26-30 years (mean age was 23 years), 16-47 years (mean age was 28.45.3 years) [10][11][12]. This may be because contraceptive use varies with age, usually reaching peak around 21-25 years and then declining.…”

“…This study also differs with Rokade et al 2017 which showed the highest awareness for female sterilization (91.4%) followed by condom (85.2%), OCPs (74.7%), IUD (72%), DMPA (8%), 4.7% of abstinence and male sterilization. 11 This suggested that the common method, which has publicity from government, media has given good impact on awareness and few methods are negligibly known to patient, especially during post-natal period so that there is high unmet need regarding these post-partum contraceptive methods and it suggest that more emphasis should be given on such methods.…”

“…In present study, out of 95.9% (422/440) cases who had awareness about contraception, most common source of information about contraception found to be health worker (83.88%) followed by family (31.51%), Television (9%) Lack of information Husband works out of town friends (5.6%), respectively and least common source of information was found to be newspaper /magazines (3.79%),which is comparable to Gaikwad RA et al 2018 study where health care system was found to be the most common source of information and contrast to Hayat et al 2013 where, media was found to be the most common source of information and Rokade et al 2017 where main source of information was mass media (53.2%) followed by friends and relatives (24.6%) and only 22.2% from health personnel's and Srivastava et al study where main source of information was friends and family(70%) and 39% from television and radio. 10,11,20,21 It is found that women in the postpartum period who had information about contraceptive from health facility were more likely to utilize postpartum contraceptive. Contrary to this finding study conducted in Uganda stated that women who had exposure to media on family planning were significantly more likely to use post-partum family planning.…”

“…In present study population, majority of cases (87.5%) had not used contraception before; only (12.5%) had used contraception before which is comparable to Rokade et al 2017 where only 20.8% of women had ever used the contraception before. 11 The concept of spacing between two children is not commonly practiced in India. Women are not well versed of proper methods of spacing after child birth and get conceived even before they get the first menses after delivery.…”