TITLE:
Attitude, Practice, and Factors Affecting Contraceptive Use among Women Attending Postnatal Care in a Tertiary Health Facility in Jos North LGA, Plateau State, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Kingsley Chinedu Okafor, David Victor Omeiza, Lucy Ochanya Idoko, Effiong Anne Inyangobong, Ochuma Emmanuel Unubi, Amos Paul Bassi
KEYWORDS:
Attitude, Contraception, Postnatal, Women
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.12 No.8,
August
23,
2022
ABSTRACT: The high population growth rate has been associated with the increased level of poverty, morbidity, mortality, and decreased life expectancy.
Modern contraception is an important factor in controlling fertility through
prevention of unintended and unwanted
pregnancies. Contraception (birth control) prevents pregnancy by
interfering with the normal process of ovulation, fertilization, and
implantation. Contraceptive use is still very low in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan
Africa (SSA), where the levels of fertility and unmet need for family planning are high. The attitude of women toward contraception will usually affect the practice and utilization of
contraceptives. The objective of this study is to assess the attitude,
prevalence, and factors affecting contraceptive use among women attending
Postnatal care in a tertiary health facility in Jos North L. G. A Plateau
State, Nigeria. There was a descriptive cross-sectional study done between September to October 2019, with a
sample size of 250 women. Respondents were determined using a multi-stage
sampling method. Data collection was done
using an interviewer-administered, pre-tested, structured questionnaire.
The data was collected, entered, and analyzed using IBM Statistical package for
social sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Most women have a positive attitude 162 (64.8%) toward contraception while 88 (35.2%) had negative attitude toward contraception. Three
quarters (75.2%) of women are willing to use contraception. The prevalence of contraceptive use among
respondents was 35.6% while the prevalence of previous use of contraceptives among the
respondents was 71.2%. Fifty (27.9%)
used condom (barrier method), 40 (22.9%) used withdrawal method. Majority of
the other respondents were spread across OCPs, injectables and implants. Major factors affecting the use of contraceptives
were majorly attributed to informed choice with 60.1%, Partner’s decision
(44.1%) and mild or no adverse reaction (12.8%). While major factors preventing
use were lack of interest in 69.4%, partners’ decision in 14.9% and fear of
side effects 12.5% of respondents. Respondents showed a wide acceptance of
family planning services as majority of them see it as beneficial and are
willing to go for another method after current pregnancy.