Systematic Review: Contraceptive Knowledge and Use in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction: Contraceptive use was remaining as paramount importance to women’s health. In the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), it was found that up to 62.8% of fertile married Saudi women do not use contraceptive methods. While, the women who are using contraceptive methods, they do not have adequate knowledge. The purpose of the systematic review in the current study is to retrieve all researches that related to contraceptive method in KSA. Methods: two questions were used to guide the review were: (1) What are the women’s knowledge and use of contraceptive methods in SA, (2) Does the contraceptive counseling conducted in KSA? Five electronic databases were used to find studies. The search started from 26th of April 2015 until 5th of May 2015. Then, it was repeated in the first of April 2017 until May 2017. Certain criteria were used to minimize the studies which were; full text article, included the married women from 18-49 years, English articles and within 2000 to 2017 years. Result: twenty-one of studies were found and met the search criteria in this review. Several Saudi studies have reported that most women have heard contraceptives but still had inadequate knowledge about benefits and side effects. The studies reported that the main sources of women’s contraceptive knowledge (53.7%) were friends and family members. Two studies found that nurses have very limited roles in contraceptive and family planning education. It is disappointing that none of the women mentioned receiving contraceptive education or information by nurses. Fifteen studies have conclude that women had used contraceptives. The most commonly used contraceptive in SA is the oral pill, IUDs and fertility awareness. Other contraceptive methods such as lactational amenorrhea, withdrawal, injections, spermicidal and tubal ligation are also noted to be used by women. all of the studies agreed that effective counseling and education were needed to improve women’s knowledge and enable them to use their preferred contraceptive method properly Conclusion: nurses have very limited roles in contraceptive and family planning education.