Author(s)

Bingo Kignomon M’bortche^1*, Francis Baramna-Bagou¹, Baguilane Douaguibe², Kossi Edem Logbo-Akey³, Dédé Regina Ajavon³, Tina Ayoko Ketevi², Akila Bassowa⁴, Abdoul-Samadou Aboubakari³, Koffi Akpadza²

¹Principal Clinic of the Togolese Association of Family Well-Being Planning Center (ATBEF), Lomé, Togo.
²Department of Gynecology-Obstetrics of the CHU Sylvanus Olympio, Lomé, Togo.
³Department of Gynecology-Obstetrics of the CHU Kara, Kara, Togo.
⁴Department of Gynecology-Obstetrics of the CHU Campus, Lomé, Togo.

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.

Contraception, Postpartum, Pregnant Women, Delivered Women, Lomé

M’bortche, B. , Baramna-Bagou, F. , Douaguibe, B. , Logbo-Akey, K. , Ajavon, D. , Ketevi, T. , Bassowa, A. , Aboubakari, A. and Akpadza, K. (2022) 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). Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 12, 67-80. doi: 10.4236/ojog.2022.121007.