Factors associated with the perception of side-effects relating to the use of contraceptive methods.

This paper reports the results of a study conducted in a black residential township in South Africa, Daveyton, to determine the factors associated with perceived side effects among users of oral contraceptives (OCs), injectable contraception, and the IUD. 3 samples of 200 respondents each were drawn for each of these contraceptive methods from the records of a township health clinic; women were required to have used the method continually for at least 1 year to be interviewed for the study. Side effects were reported by 21.5% of OC users, 39.5% of injectable contraception users, and 35% of IUD users. Multivariate analysis indicated that perceptions of side effects were not associated with desire for more children, time since last birth, parity at which the contraceptive method was 1st accepted, or whether the method was being used to space births or terminate fertility. However, among OC users, reports of side effects were significantly associated with age, economic activity, and number of methods used. In the case of injectables, parity and period of method use were associated with side effects. Finally, there was only 1 explanatory variable among IUD users: number of methods used. Perceptions of side effects among OC users were more prevalent among older women, those who were employed, and women who had used other methods. In injectable acceptors, the percentages of women reporting side effects in the parity categories 3-5+ were more than double those for women with parity 0-2 and these decreased with increasing duration of use. Since the existence or perception of side effects is an important factor in contraceptive discontinuation, further, multidisciplinary research is urged to understand women's reactions to contraception.