Terminal fertility control: Clients’ own reason for the choice of the contraceptive method

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of contraceptive use has increased worldwide due to the development and introduction of modern contraceptives and the establishment of organized family planning programs. In Nigeria, there is a very slow rise in contraceptive use prevalence, resulting in high fertility rate. Generally contraceptive is either used for birth spacing, or for the purpose of terminal fertility control to limit the number of children, and the choice of method for this purpose varies. Aims and Objectives: To determine the contraceptive methods of choice among clients seeking terminal fertility control, and their reasons for the choice of such methods. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of clients attending the family planning clinic of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching hospital over a period of twenty-four months, between July, 2009 and June, 2011. All clients who had completed their family, and wanted a contraceptive method to limit their family size filled the semi-structured questionnaire after giving their informed consent. Clients’ own reasons for the choice of the particular contraceptive method were grouped, entered into SPSS work sheet, and analyzed using SPSS version 17. Result: There were five hundred and ninety-two new contraceptive method acceptors during the study period, of which 264 (44.6%) were for terminal fertility control. Progestogen-only injectable contraceptive was the method of choice for terminal fertility control by 145 (54.9%) of the clients, while 85 (32.2%) made intrauterine contraceptive device (copper-T) their method of choice, and the least chosen method was female surgical sterilization (2, 0.8%). Ease of administration, satisfaction with previous use, long duration of action, and husband’s preference were the reasons for the choice of the methods. Conclusion: There is awareness of terminal fertility control in Nigeria, especially in the southwestern region of the country, and this may be responsible for the decreasing prevalence of grandmultiparity in the region. However, reversible contraceptive method is the preferred option for this purpose.