RESUMEN
A household survey was conduced in Skeikh Omer Primary Health Care Center in Baghdad City to assess the continuation of oral contraceptive method used in respect to some variables among clients who attended family planning clinic for the first time during January / 1997 and they were followed up one year after using the method. Sample of the study consisted of [109] clients using oral contraceptive. Data were collected through an interview questionnaire form after one year using the method through home visit. Results of the study revealed that [65.1%] of the study sample had continued to use the oral contraceptive method after one year, in addition more than one third of study sample had discontinued to use the method either dropped out or switched to other method after one year. There were five variables which emerged from multiple Logistic regression analysis as the prime determinants of the continuation of oral contraceptive method and which came in order of importance which include: Duration between last two pregnancy, regular attendance of client to family planning clinic, acceptance of oral contraceptive method, husband desire and desire for having the last child. Also the result stated that the highest percentage [84.4%] of intrauterine contraceptive device users mentioned that the occurrence of side effects were the reason for discontinuation of the method. The study recommended that the necessity of improving the educational aspect of family planning services and establishing a follow up system in each clinic to detect continuation of the method and necessity the integration system of family planning services with primary health care and obstetrical and gynecology health services