Awareness and practice of contraceptive measures among multiparous Pakistani women - A multicenter study

Abstract

Objective: To determine contraceptive knowledge and practices among multiparous women. Study Design: Cross Sectional, Multicenter study. Setting: Gynae Unit I of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore and Gynecology Department of Government Teaching Hospital, Shahdara. Period: 1^st July 2019 to 31^st December, 2019. Material & Methods: A total of 448 multiparous women were randomly selected from 2 tertiary care hospitals. A structured questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge of women attending antenatal and gynaecology clinics and indoor. Results: Out of 448 women, all were aware of at least one method of contraception and 272 (65%) had used one. The most commonly employed method was male condom (33%) followed by IUCD (24%), oral contraceptive pill (22%) and hormone based injectables (13%). In upper socioeconomic class, 95% were using birth control methods whereas 71% of middle class and 48% of lower class subjects had used any one method of birth control. In the highly educated subjects, 67% had employed a contraceptive method and among the illiterate, only 39% has used any method. Disapproval on part of the husband was the most common (28%) reason of refusing contraceptive services, followed by desire for more children (16%). Health care workers were the most common source of knowledge of contraception (69%) followed by family members (31%) and media (17%). Conclusion: All the subjects were aware of contraceptive methods. The most common used method is condoms followed by IUCD but practices were limited due to high illetracy, lower socioeconomic status, partener refusal, desire for more issues and fear of side effects.