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Postpartum contraceptive choices among women attending a well‐baby clinic in Ghana
Author(s) -
Morhe Emmanuel S.K.,
Ankobea Frank,
Asubonteng Gerald O.,
Opoku Baafuor,
Turpin Cornelius A.,
Dalton Vanessa K.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.12216
Subject(s) - medicine , family planning , family medicine , unintended pregnancy , demographics , pregnancy , postpartum period , obstetrics , maternity care , population , demography , research methodology , environmental health , sociology , biology , genetics
Objective To assess postpartum contraceptive choices among women attending a well‐baby clinic in Ghana. Methods From April 1 to May 31, 2011, a descriptive cross‐sectional survey was conducted among women who attended the well‐baby clinic of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, at 6–24 months after delivery. Participants were consecutively recruited and interviewed using semi‐structured questionnaires. Data were collected on demographics, exposure to family planning counseling, message content, and postpartum contraceptive choices. Differences between the profiles of women who did or did not take up postpartum family planning were assessed. Results Of the 200 women enrolled, 44 (22.0%) wanted no more children and the last pregnancy was unintended among 88 (44.0%). In all, 110 (55.0%) women took up postpartum contraception, with the calendar method (n=57; 51.8%) and injectable contraceptives (n=22; 20.0%) cited as popular choices. Family planning counseling was received at the prenatal clinic by 47 (23.5%) women, with 12 (6.0%) given written referrals on the postnatal ward. More previous contraceptive users than previous non‐users chose long‐acting or permanent postpartum methods ( P< 0.001). Conclusion Inadequate postpartum family planning counseling and referrals during maternity care were recorded, suggesting that a comprehensive educational intervention is required to improve uptake.