Knowledge and practices of Saudi women regarding family planning methods

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to identify knowledge and practices of Saudi women regarding family planning methods. An exploratory cross-sectional descriptive study implemented at the Maternity and Gynecologic clinics affiliated to King Fahd University Hospital in Alkhobar, Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A convenient sample of 174 women who attended the previously mentioned setting during the period August first to November thirty 2006 constituted the study sample. A specially designed interview questionnaire was developed and validated by the researcher was used to collect the necessary data. The findings of the study revealed that, majority of the study sample [90.8%] know the oral contraception and 39.2% of them did not know how to use, 83.9% know the intrauterine devices while only 16.1 % know the coitus interrupts, 65.8% and 76.0% respectively did not know the mode of action of the intrauterine devices and the oral contraception, 36.8% know safe period compared to 121.1% know vaginal pessaries. 55.2% of the study sample their source of knowledge were their friends. The findings also revealed that, the majority of the study sample [79.9%] were more likely to use modern contraception, more than three quarters [79.1%] of the study sample were more likely to discontinue the contraception and about two thirds [62.7%] refer discontinuation to appearance of side effects. Regarding the methods most commonly used it was observed that, more than two thirds [70.7%] were more likely to use oral contraception, more than one quarter [27.0%] were more likely to use intrauterine devices, condom was used by only 12.1% and coitus interrupts used by only 5.7% of the study sample, the most common side effects reported by the study sample was menstrual disturbance [23.0%], hypertension [14.3%] and 10.8% reported irritability and nervousness as a side effects. The main recommendations were, Official family planning services must be available to secure healthy practices of family planning. In Saudi Arabia family planning should be viewed as a benefits for the mothers and child health, needs for family planning programs grunted by purposes for maternal and child health. General family planning education of the public, with special emphasis on the danger of too short too many pregnancies on the mothers and children