142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Preference for Injectable Contraceptives in Ghana: An Analysis of Mediating Factors

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Sunday, November 16, 2014

Frank Ankobea, MD FWACS , DIRECTORATE OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, KOMFO ANOKYE TEACHING HOSPITAL, KUMASI, Ghana
Dennis O. Laryea, MD MPH MGCP , Public Health Unit, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
Emmanuel Morhe, MD FWACS
Yaw Amoako, BSc MD FWACP , Department of Medicine, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
Injectable contraceptives were introduced in Ghana during the mid-1990’s and currently account for more than 30% of contraceptive use by women in Ghana. Thirty-nine percent of prospective users of modern family planning methods are also likely to opt for injectables. Two injectable contraceptives are currently available in Ghana. These are depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and oestradiol valerate. This study sought to identify factors contributing to the high patronage of injectable contraceptives in Ghana.

We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi Ghana. All women on injectable contraceptives accessing services in the hospital at the time of the study were eligible for selection. Using simple random sampling, 247 women were selected for the study.

The majority of respondents (70%) were on injection depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. Sixty percent of respondents were on injectables as their first ever method of contraception. Recommendations by relations and friends and forgetfulness associated with other methods were common reasons for opting for injectables. The convenient dosing, schedule, favorable side effect profile, preference for injections, desire to be discreet, dislike of pills and side effects associated with other methods were also identified as factors contributing to the high uptake of injectable contraceptives. The majority of respondents were satisfied with the method and will recommend it to another person.

A high level of satisfaction exists among users of injectable contraceptives. Further public education on this and other methods have the potential to improve Ghana’s contraceptive prevalence rate and reduce the unmet need for family planning.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related public policy
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify factors contributing to the high uptake of injectable contraceptives in Ghana

Keyword(s): Contraception, Family Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Public Health Specialist various academic and public health credentials which enable me to present the data in this abstract. I supervise reproductive and Child Health activities of Public Health importance at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. I also participated fully in the study and preparation of this abstract.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.