Dissatisfaction with contraceptive methods

Abstract

• BACKGROUND: Almost two thirds of Iranians eligible for using contraceptive methods use these methods. Their dissatisfaction with the methods would directly and indirectly affect the quality of family planning services and would bring about detrimental results for the service recipients and consequently for other family members. Therefore, identification and evaluation of the factors leading to dissatisfaction with contraceptive methods can help the authorities responsible for family planning services to provide some solutions to increase satisfaction with these methods.
• METHODS: This research was a qualitative phenomenological study. The study population consisted of the women using intrauterine device (IUD) or contraceptive pills only as contraception, referred to 14-Masoum, Amir Hamzeh, Ebn-e Sina, Shahid Motamed, and Navab Safavi clinical centers. Sampling was goal-based, and 14 individuals participated in the study. Data collection was carried out in four months using deep interview. Data analysis was performed using seven-step Colaizzi’s method.
• RESULTS: The findings of the interviews were assigned 104 codes categorized into three groups; 1- physical and psychological harms experienced by the method, 2- the shortcomings of the methods, and 3- continuation in spite of dissatisfaction with the method.
• CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, the users of contraceptive methods would have some experiences, which lead to their dissatisfaction with the methods. Since dissatisfaction with the methods will result in a decrease in continuation of use of the methods or discontinuation of the method, providing some policies to increase the satisfaction with contraceptive methods can cause more effective use of the methods and continuation of their use.
• KEY WORDS: Oral contraception; intra-uterine device (IUD); satisfaction with contraceptive methods; experiences of using contraceptive methods.