Subdermal contraceptive implants - A 10 year experience in Sokoto north western Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Contraceptive implants are long acting reversible hormonal contraceptives. They are one of the most effective modern family planning methods and they are available and well accepted.

Objectives: The study wishes to report our experience with the implants especially regarding the sociodemographic characteristics of acceptors the side effect profile and the discontinuation rates since inception of the new Fertility Research Unit of UDUTH sokoto.

Methods: A 10-year review of all the records of new clients from 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2017. The data extracted was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23.

Results: There were 5762 new acceptors of modern contraception during the study period out of which 3640(63.2%) chose the contraceptive implants. The modal age was 20 to 24 years (29.6%) and two thousand four hundred and forty-seven of them (67%) had at least secondary level of education. All the clients were married and an overwhelming majority (84.1%) of the clients were spacers. A third of clients (33.1%) had side effects. Principal among these was irregular vaginal bleeding (71%). Discontinuation rates were high (49%) and the main reason for this was the desire to conceive.

Conclusion: The implants are the most popular methods of modern contraception in the fertility research unit of UDUTH Sokoto. Most clients were young, educated spacers of low parity. Most clients did not report side effects. Of those that did irregular vaginal bleeding was the most common. Discontinuation rats were high and the desire to conceive was the main reason for this.