Contraceptive Choices and Acceptability among New Clients Attending the Family Planning Unit of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Background: Effective contraception can prevent unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion and ensure adequate birth spacing. The choice of a method depends on consideration of its advantages and disadvantages based on individual perception and interpretations.

Objective: To assess contraceptive choices and acceptability among new clients at the family planning clinic of a tertiary health facility in Rivers State, Nigeria.

Methodology: This was a one-year retrospective review of clinical records of new clients attending the Family Planning Unit of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital from January 1, to December 31, 2018. Data on age, education, marital status, parity, contraceptive choice and reason for contraception were retrieved and analyzed using Epi-Info version 7.1.4.

Results: A total of 124 female clients were enrolled during the time period. The mean age of the participants was 33.8±5.1 years and the median parity was 3. The most common method of contraception accepted by the clients was implants 87 (70.2%), followed by intrauterine device 32 (25.8%), then injectable 4 (3.2%) and oral contraceptive pills 1(0.8%). Reasons proffered for use of contraceptive was mainly completed family size 69 (55.6%), pregnancy prevention 53 (42.8%) and child spacing 2 (1.6%). There was no significant difference on comparism of mean age and median parity of clients by choice of contraceptive method.

Conclusion: The implant methods were the most commonly accepted, while the oral contraceptive pill was the least preferred. Completed family size was the most common reason for contraception.