Journal of Clinical Sciences (Jan 2018)
A 10-year review of the pattern of use of intrauterine contraceptive device among women seeking contraception at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital
Abstract
Background: Intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUCDs) are the most frequently used method of reversible female contraception worldwide, but their utilization varies considerably in different countries. Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the pattern of use of IUCD, sources of referral, its associated complications and reasons for its discontinuation over a 10-year period. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of all the women who sought contraceptive services at the Family Planning Clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital over a 10-year period (January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2015). The case notes of these women were retrieved and relevant data extracted. Descriptive statistics were computed for the data, and results were presented in simple tables and charts. Results: A total of 1726 women accessed contraceptive services during the period under review with 521 (30.2%) choosing IUCD as their preferred method. A majority of the clients were aged between 30 and 34 years (34.5%) and multiparous (92.3%). The largest proportion of the studied clients (71.9%) had up to the tertiary level of education with the majority of the referrals coming from nurses (39.5%) and doctors (20.0%). The most common undesirable effect reported by the clients was abnormal vaginal discharge (40.8%) while 40.7% of the women discontinued the use of the IUCD prematurely. The most common reason for discontinuing the use of IUCD was the occurrence of an undesirable effect (44.8%). Conclusions: Our study revealed a modest decline in the uptake of IUCD among contraceptive users in Lagos. Health-care providers still appear to be the best source of information and referral as they play a crucial role in influencing women's acceptability of these services.
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