The factors affecting women's contraceptive choices

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors affecting women’s contraceptive choices. In this study, we included 507 subjects, of whom 108 were nulliparous and 399 of whom were multiparous. All were married between 15-49 years old and had applied to the Ministry of Health Konya Eregli Hospital Obstetric and Gynaecology Polyclinic. An inquiry form was fi lled during a face-to-face conversation which included their contraceptive choices, the factors affecting them, the reasons for leaving previous methods they had used, working and educational status and their knowledge about the contraceptive methods. The mean age of the study group was 33.6±7. While 85.21% (n=432) were using modern methods, 14.79% (n=75) were using traditional methods. When the contraceptive methods being used were examined, it was detected that the condom was the most used method with 30.18% (n=153) and the use of once-in-three months progesterone (n=2), levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine devices (n=2) and lactation (n=2) had the lowest percentages (0.40%). Among the study group, 65.50% of the women were influenced by their husbands about the choice of contraceptive, 52.27% were counselled by a physician and 35.70% were affected by their neighbours. The most frequently given reason for leaving the previous contraception method was losing confi dence and becoming pregnant. In the study group, only 48.32% of the women had knowledge about their contraceptive methods. It was thought that the women were affected by their husbands and their neighbours in their choice of contraception and they were almost unconsciously using their chosen methods. Counselling by physicians to make women more conscious of their choice and choose the most appropriate contraceptive method is recommended.