Author(s)

Charles O. Njoku, Cajethan I. Emechebe^*, Christopher U. Iklaki, Amarachukwu N. Njoku, Jenkins T. Ukaga

Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Nigeria.

Progestogen-only injectable contraceptive is a highly effective, long lasting and reversible agent of fertility control. The objective is to determine the profile of the acceptors, side effects and indication for discontinuation of progestogen-only injectable contraceptives at UCTH, Calabar. This was a retrospective study of the clients who used progestogen-only injectable contraceptives at the family planning unit between 1^st January 2008 and 31^st December 2014. A total of 1392 clients used the injectable progestogen-only contraceptive out of 5986 total contraceptive users giving the prevalence rate of 23.3% over the period. Of these, 60.4% of the clients accepted the depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, while 39.6% accepted the norethisterone enanthate. It was mostly utilized by multiparous women, clients with tertiary education and those in their third decade of life. Secondary amenorrhea was the commonest side effect in 47.7% of the clients. Over the study period, 243 (19.8%) discontinued the method and 48.1% discontinued due to secondary amenorrhea while 31.4% was due to desire to get pregnant. Progestogen-only injectable contraceptive was associated with multiple side-effects, with secondary amenorrhea being the most common, and menstrual irregularity was the main reason for discontinuation. Providing adequate information to clients about this method of contraception and its probable side effects, supportive counseling during initiation of contraception and re-enforcement during follow-up visit can go a long way in enhancing patient satisfaction and hence continuation of progestogen-only injectable contraceptive despite minor side effects.

Injectable, Progestogen, Depot-Provera, Contraceptives, Side Effects, Calabar

Njoku, C. , Emechebe, C. , Iklaki, C. , Njoku, A. and Ukaga, J. (2016) Progestogen-Only Injectable Contraceptives: The Profile of the Acceptors, Side Effects and Discontinuation in a Low Resource Setting, Nigeria. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 6, 189-195. doi: 10.4236/ojog.2016.64024.