Abstract
ObjectiveUnplanned pregnancy in women with SLE can have grave complications both for the child and the woman. We studied the prevalence of contraceptive counseling among women of reproductive age with SLE at a university hospital in Northeast Thailand.MethodsRecruited: 125 women with SLE, between 15 and 50 years, followed up at the Rheumatology Clinic. A questionnaire was administered and the results analyzed to identify the prevalence of contraceptive counseling.ResultsThe majority of women with SLE had had their reproductive goals evaluated (76.00%, 95% CI 66–83) and received contraceptive counseling (72%). Among the SLE patients at risk for pregnancy, only one-third used effective contraception and one-fifth of those did not have any background knowledge about SLE and pregnancy. Contraceptive counseling was more frequently given to women who had had a previous pregnancy or who were already concerned about SLE as related to pregnancy.ConclusionThe majority of SLE patients had at one time or other received contraceptive counseling, but some reported not grasping the gravity. The survey results presented herein suggest that a multidisciplinary team is needed to improve patient knowledge regarding SLE as it affects on pregnancy and relatedly contraceptive counseling.
Highlights
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease mostly found among women of reproductive age [1]
An epidemiologic study using a questionnaire survey of 2,463 subjects of rheumatic diseases in rural Thailand by Chaiamnauy et al reported that the prevalence of CNTD was 8 in 10,000 [2]
In 2001, a community survey of musculoskeletal pain and management in Namphong District, Khon Kaen Province conducted by Auabandit et al revealed the prevalence of SLE was 0.38% [3]
Summary
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease mostly found among women of reproductive age [1]. There is no official report on the prevalence of SLE among the Thai population. An epidemiologic study using a questionnaire survey of 2,463 subjects of rheumatic diseases in rural Thailand by Chaiamnauy et al reported that the prevalence of CNTD was 8 in 10,000 [2]. A 2009 study [4] of pregnancy outcomes among women with SLE at Srinagarind Hospital showed 37 women with SLE were pregnant in the 10 years between 1997 and 2006; 90% of whom had had SLE established before pregnancy. The disease was active during pregnancy in twothirds and correlated with poorer pregnancy outcomes. In this group, the disease activity during pregnancy was a continuation from the pre-pregnancy period for 60% of the women; ~40% of SLE patients became pregnant during an active disease phase
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