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Contraceptive pattern at a comprehensive health center in a sub-urban setting


Josiah T Mutihir
Helen L Dashala
John KA Madaki

Abstract

Context: The Gindiri Comprehensive Health Center (CHC) is about 76 km from Jos and serves the local population. It provides health care services to patients in addition to providing contraceptive services to desiring clients.

Objective: To evaluate the pattern of contraceptive acceptability and the preferred methods of contraception accepted by the population.

Methodology: This was a descriptive review of the records of the family planning clinic of the Comprehensive Health Center, Gindiri, between January 1990 and December 2003.

Results: A total of 651 new clients accepted contraceptive methods within the period of study. There was a gradual decline in the new acceptors over the period from 238 in 1990-1991 to 56 in 2002-2003. The mean age and parity were 32.4 ± 3.6 and 5.0 ± 2.4 respectively. There was no record of males accepting any method of contraception. The commonest accepted method of contraception accepted most by the clients was the pill 295 (45.3%), followed by the Injectable 254 (39.0%). Bilateral tubal ligation (BTL) was the least acceptable by the clients in 8 (1.2%) clients.

Conclusion: There was a gradual decline in new acceptors of contraceptive methods in the center over the years. The men were not accepting any form of contraception. Men need more information in order to utilize the service or encourage their spouses to use the available methods.

Keywords: contraception, clients, the pill, comprehensive health center, Gindiri

Tropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Vol. 22(2) 2005: 144-146

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eISSN: 0189-5117