ABSTRACT
Among 1266 contraceptive acceptors (median age 30 years, median parity 4.5) attending a family planning clinic, mostly after referral from the post-natal clinic, two thirds chose the intrauterine device, almost all the remainder choosing oral contraception. Oral contraception was, however, the main choice among women parity 0 or 1. A definite intention to have no more children was given by none of the women of parity 3 or under, and only by 15% of those of parity 8 or more, so that child spacing was the main reason for accepting contraception. By 12 months, the discontinuation rate among oral contraceptive users was 17% (IUD 11%) of which 11% (IUD 6%) was for personal reasons or to plan pregnancy, 4% (IUD 5%) through adverse effects and 0.6% (IUD 0.8%) through accidental pregnancy.
PIP: Among 1266 contraceptive acceptors (median age=30 years, median parity=4.5) attending a family planning clinic, largely because of referrals from a postnatal clinic, 2/3 selected the IUD and almost all the remainder selected oral contraceptives (OCs). OCs were the main choice for women with parity 0 or 1. No women with parity 3 or less claimed that they intended to have no more children; only 15% of those with parity 8 or more made the same claim. Child spacing was thus the main reason for accepting contraception. At the end of 12 months, the discontinuation rate for OC users was 17% (IUD=11%) of which 11% (IUD=6%) was for personal reasons or to plan a pregnancy, 4% (IUD=5%) because of adverse effects, and 0.6% (IUD=0.8%) because of accidental pregnancy. (author's modified)
