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Oral Contraceptives and Family Health in Rural Bangladesh
Author(s) -
Huber Sallie Craig,
Huber Douglas H.,
Khan Atiqur Rahman,
Chakraborty J.,
Chowdhury Abu Yusef,
Rahman Makhlisur,
Chowdhury A. I.
Publication year - 1980
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/j.1879-3479.1980.tb00495.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pill , family planning , context (archaeology) , pregnancy , obstetrics , abortion , lactation , family medicine , population , gynecology , environmental health , nursing , research methodology , paleontology , genetics , biology
A case‐control survey of mothers was undertaken in rural Bangladesh to assess the health problems of oral contraceptive users compared with two groups of nonusers. The complaint most often reported was weakness—more than 80% of all women surveyed. Significantly more pill users than nonusers reported experiencing dizziness and eye problems. However, only one fifth of dizziness complaints among pill users could be attributed to the pill. Although more pill users reported a decrease in lactation, a greater problem among the control group was total cessation of lactation related to a subsequent pregnancy. Therefore, in this context the pill may postpone weaning more often than it reduces lactation. That few women choose to use oral contraceptives in the early postpartum period, when a reduction in breast milk would be most hazardous to the child, contributes to this favorable balance. The attitude toward early termination of pregnancy was positive for 61% of pill users and 34% of nonusers. It is likely that abortion services would be favorably received in this traditional society.