ACCESSIBILITY, USE, MISUSE AND EFFECTS OF COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG WOMEN OF CHILD BEARING AGE

ACCESSIBILITY, USE, MISUSE AND EFFECTS OF COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG WOMEN OF CHILD BEARING AGE

ABSTRACT

Unwanted pregnancy followed by unsafe abortion can be avoided by using different contraceptive methods. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accessibility, use, misuse and effects of combined oral contraceptives among women of child bearing age. To effectively investigate this, the health belief model was adopted. A total of 250 respondents were used out of the 300 sampled population for the study. The knowledge of the side effects of contraceptives use and the management of contraceptives side effects among women in Aluu local government area, Rivers State was examined using the structured close ended questionnaire. the structured close ended questionnaire was used to obtain information on statement on level of knowledge and management measure on contraceptive side effect. The questionnaire was administered was then administered to 250 respondents in In Aluu LGA, Rivers State using purposive sampling procedure. The result of the findings from the respondents was presented using frequency and percentage. Conclusively, the pattern of response from the respondent is similarly in most questions implying a uniformity of level of opinion concerning their knowledge and management of the side effect of contraceptive use. Conclusively, the pattern of response from the respondent is similry in most questions implying a uniformity of level of opinion concerning their knowledge and management of the side effect of contraceptive use.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background of the Study

Over the world, family planning and contraception is among the pertinent issues been discussed. In the early days, human societies had creation of as many children as possible, a central value. Today however, relatively few societies can afford this perspective, resulting in increased attempts to limit and manage the birth rate of their families of which Nigeria is no exception. The negative effect of high fertility rate on women and their children, and the benefits of fertility control are well known (Dona et. al., 2008).

The situation in Africa is as low as 25 percent, the lowest among developing regions in the world (RAND, 1998; UNFPA, 2001). In West Africa, about 36 percent of women are using contraceptives and this rate varies from a low percentage of 22 percent in Mali, 26 percent in Togo, 32 percent in Burkina Faso, and 33 percent in Nigeria (Dona et. al., 2008, UNDP, 2008). In Nigeria, a country with multiple ethnic sets and religious groupings, efforts made by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other agencies on the use of contraceptives have resulted in a general increase over the last two decades (Ann et al 2002, UNDP, 2008). There has also been a drop in fertility rate from 6.4 percent in the 1970s to 4.4 percent in 2005 (UNDP, 2008).

Currently, a national contraceptive use of 33 per cent has been estimated even though 43 percent of married women in the country desire to space their children and an additional 24 percent need to limit births. The disparity of use of family planning methods among the urban and rural, and rich and poor puts many women in most deprived settings at a disadvantage (GSS, 2003). The use of contraceptives since 1960 have helped women worldwide to prevent about 400 million pregnancies, as a result, women lives have been saved from high risk of pregnancies. Again, contraceptives methods do excellent double duty as prophylactics (disease preventer), latex rubber and polyethylene condoms provide a barrier against STIs and HIV/AIDS infection whose spread is alarming in the country (Harvey, 2000).

The major concern here is about the accessibility, use, misuse and effect of combined contraceptives among women of child bearing age. Even though contraceptives have emerged in the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and sometimes STI, it has not been fully accepted by most communities for women of child bearing age to use them.