Acceptance of postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device among women attending antenatal care in a low‐resource setting in Nigeria

Abstract Objective To assess the level of awareness, acceptance, and any identifiable barriers to the use of postpartum intrauterine devices ( PPIUD s) among pregnant women receiving care in a low‐resource setting in Nigeria. Methods A pretested interviewer‐administered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant data from all consenting pregnant women receiving antenatal care at Polyclinic and Uwani health center in the city of Enugu from January 1 to March 31, 2018. Data were entered and analyzed using Epi Info statistical software. P <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results About two‐thirds (65.6%) of the 620 respondents were unaware of PPIUD s. After counseling, about one‐third (36.8%, n=228/620) of the respondents accepted having an immediate PPIUD , while the majority (63.2%, n=392/620) declined. The identified barriers towards accepting immediate PPIUD s were fear of side effects (57.9%), religious reasons (20.7%), and preference for other contraceptive methods. None of the respondents had ever inserted a PPIUD previously. Conclusion The low level of acceptance of PPIUD s in the study appears to be a reflection of the low level of awareness of PPIUD s in the region. Efforts in creating awareness and health education to dispel the myths and misconceptions about PPIUD s are required in order to promote its uptake in the region.