TITLE:
Knowledge, Attitudes of Pregnant Women and Practices of Women Who Have Recently Given Birth on Contraception in the Immediate Postpartum Period at Principal Clinic of the Togolese Association of Family Well-Being Planning Center (ATBEF)
AUTHORS:
Bingo Kignomon M’bortche, Francis Baramna-Bagou, Baguilane Douaguibe, Kossi Edem Logbo-Akey, Dédé Regina Ajavon, Tina Ayoko Ketevi, Akila Bassowa, Abdoul-Samadou Aboubakari, Koffi Akpadza
KEYWORDS:
Contraception, Postpartum, Pregnant Women, Delivered Women, Lomé
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.12 No.1,
January
26,
2022
ABSTRACT: Background: The use of modern contraceptive methods contributes to the reduction of
maternal and neonatal mortality. The initiation of a contraceptive method in
the immediate postpartum period is one of the strategies to avoid missing out
on contraceptive opportunities. This strategy will reduce the unmet need for
contraception which is still high in the country. Objective: To describe
the knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women and the practices of women who
have given birth about immediate postpartum contraception. Methodology:
This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted at the main clinic of ATBEF from 20th March to 20th October
2020. Our study included pregnant women whose gestational age was
greater than or equal to 37 weeks of amenorrhea who came for prenatal
consultation or for any other consultation and then gave birth in the center.
Data collection was based on a survey form. Data analysis and entry was done
with the Epi info 2000 version 6.04
software. The parameters studied were: socio-demographic characteristics,
knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women about contraception in the immediate
postpartum period, and contraceptive practices of the women who gave birth. Results:
During the study period, 201 women were selected for the survey. The average
age of the respondents was 26.2 years. They were nulliparous in 41.3% of cases.
Our respondents had knowledge of modern contraceptive methods in 82.10% of
cases. About 59.2% of the respondents had an unfavourable attitude towards the
adoption of contraceptive methods in the immediate postpartum period. The main
reason was adverse effects in 33.6%. Of the 82 women who had a favourable
attitude, 29 women had adopted a contraceptive method after delivery, which
corresponds to a rate of use of 14.4% of the respondents. The main reason for
non-adoption of a contraceptive method after childbirth for those who had a
favourable attitude was the opposition of the husband in 34%. Conclusion:
Couple counselling during prenatal and postnatal care and intensified awareness
raising on planning and ideal spacing of pregnancies for health will increase
the number of contraceptive users in the immediate postpartum period.