The choice of contraceptives among women in Orlu, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Remarkable progress has been recorded in the turn of the century towards the development of more efficient and safer contraceptives. Previous studies from some parts of the country showed an increase in the percentage of clients changing from one contraceptive method to another. With the advent of the HIV/AIDS pandemic at the turn of the new millennium there may still be further changes in the choice of contraceptives in different parts of the world, Nigeria inclusive.

Aim: To study the choice of contraceptive usage and the factors predictive of such choices in Orlu, southern Nigeria.

Design:  A cross sectional study

Setting: Imo state University Teaching Hospital, Orlu, Nigeria.

Subjects:  Clients attending the family planning clinic. Main outcome variables: contraceptive choice, reason for choice, awareness and source of awareness about contraceptives.

Results: Five hundred and three clients were reviewed. Ninety one percent knew at least one method of contraception. Their ages ranged between 18 and 52 years with majority in the 33-37 years age bracket. Most of the women were housewives (46.5%). Clients who had attained post secondary school education or more constituted 29.4%, majority were married (84.7%), in monogamous marriages (81.7%) and grandmultiparous (45.9%). The commonest contraceptive choice was the injectables (44.3%) while nurses and midwives formed the commonest source of knowledge about contraception and referral.

Conclusion: The most commonly used contraceptive method in Orlu, Nigeria is the injectables. The HIV/AIDS pandemic may likely change or affect this trend.

Keywords: Contraceptive choice, Source of awareness, Referral, Orlu