Differences in the implementation of preventive services for reproductive health protection of women of different ages

Abstract

Objective. The preservation and improvement of reproductive health of women is a significant segment of public health policy in each country. Factors affecting the reproductive health of women are numerous: the sociodemographic, sexual behavior and lifestyle, and health care factors. The aim of this study was to examine differences in socodemographic characteristics, application of methods of contraception and prevention practices are important to protect reproductive health of women of different age. Methods. This study represents a secondary data analysis of the 2006 National Health Survey of the population of Serbia (without data about Kosovo-Metohija), which was performed as a cross-sectional study on a randomly selected representative population sample of 14,522 people aged 20 and more. In this study, we focused on the characteristics of 3,575 women aged 20 to 49. Results. With our study we have shown that there are significant differences both in the application of methods of contraception, as well as preventive gynecological practice in order to protect the reproductive health of women young and middle age. The subjects mean age, as a method of contraception more frequently applied IUU (OR=3,56, 95% CI 2,02 - 6,28) and the method of the fertile days (OR=1,48, 95% CI 1,17 - 1,87); less likely to use condoms (OR=0,36, 95% CI 0,30- 0,45). In terms of preventive gynecological practice, middle-aged respondents, compared to younger, less likely to leave the control gynecological examinations (OR=2,13, 95% CI 1,78-2,54) more likely to do breast selfexamination (OR=1,23, 95% CI 1,05-1,45), Pap test usually work for a period of over three years (OR=7,27, 95% CI 3,34 to 15,84). Conclusion. Our study showed that women of different ages not sufficiently concerned about protecting their reproductive health, resulting in the low fertility rate.