A Survey on continued use of combined oral contraceptives

Abstract

Introduction: In order to support the health of mother and child, each country should control its population using different contraceptive methods. Continued use of contraceptive method plays an important role in assessment of quality of family planning. The present study investigated the rate of continued use of combined oral contraceptives in a sample population in Iran.

Methods: The present research was a cross-sectional study surveying 500 women between 15-49 years of age by random cluster sampling method. All these women used combined oral contraceptive methods continuously and were being cared in maternal and child centers. The tool used in data collection was a comprehensive questionnaire, which was completed through interviews, filled out by trained interviewers. Content validity was used in order to determine the validity of the questionnaire. Descriptive and analytic statistics were used for data analysis, which was completed through SPSS soft ware.

Results: The mean duration of using combined oral contraceptive methods was 21.38 ± 15.94 months. Cumulative proportion of using combined oral contraceptive methods in 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 48 and 60 months after starting to take combined oral contraception was 77%, 62%, 52%, 45%, 35%, 28%, 19% and 12%, respectively. Findings of the present study showed that the majority of women were 15-24 year-old and had secondary school education.

Conclusion: Results obtained from the present research showed that the continued use of combined oral contraceptive methods was highest in the first six months of starting to take combined oral contraception. This finding suggests that workers of family health planning should improve the qualities of their counseling and encourage the clients for continuous use of contraceptive method.