Choice of contraceptive method among females attending family planning center in Hayat Abad Medical Complex, Peshawar.

OBJECTIVES To identify the pattern and causes of making contraceptive choices among females attending family planning centre in Peshawar, Pakistan. METHODS The simple observational study based on convenient sampling was conducted at the family planning centre of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, from October to December, 2010. Included were 104 females who were asked about their contraceptive use and the reason for their decisions. The variable used for contraceptive choices, included effectiveness (against preventing pregnancy), easy availability, side effects of the method, general health issues, cost factor and permanence of the method. RESULTS It was found that 49 (46.7%) females were currently using injectables; 18 (17.1%) pills; 18 (17.1%) IUDs; 19 (10.5%) tubal ligation; and 9 (8.6%) condoms. The major causes for making the choices were effectiveness (n = 32; 30.5%); easy availability (n = 19; 18.1%); side effects (n = 11; 10.5%); reproductive tract infections (n = 3; 2.9%); and cost factor (n = 2; 1.9%). Respondents who choose more than one reason were 23.8% (n = 25). It was observed that 60% (n = 63) of respondents were first-time users, while the rest gave history of using some method in the past. Out of this proportion, pills and barrier method were used in most patients. Among the illiterate group of 35 (55.2%) respondents, 18 (28.6%) chose injectables; 6 (9.5%) chose IUCDs; and 6 (9.5%) tubal ligation. Similarly, 13 (20%) respondents from poor socio-economic group and 15 (22.9%) respondents from the middle group chose injectables. CONCLUSIONS When given choices and balanced information about contraceptives, more women are likely to continue the method. Respondents from the lower socioeconomic and illiterate group chose injectables in high proportion due to their effectiveness and easy availability. Side effects of the method and health concerns were less considered, while the cost factor was the least considered.