Family Planning Practice in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital: A Five Year Review

Background: Globally, there is an increasing unmet need for safe and effective family planning services. Most women in Africa, just like in many parts around the world, desire to control both the number and timing of births but lack an effective contraceptive method. Utilization of family planning services in developing countries has been found to prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce maternal and child mortality, however, its uptake still remains low.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and pattern of contraceptive use, and to identify factors influencing use of modern contraceptive methods.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of 1,060 new clients who accepted a modern contraceptive method at the family planning clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, (UPTH) Nigeria, was conducted between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2015. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, reasons for contraception, and their current method of contraception was obtained from the clinic registers, client cards and theatre records. Data obtained was analysed using the Statistical package for the social sciences SPSS version 20.

Results: Over the 5-year period under review, a total of 1,060 clients accepted a family planning method. The contraceptive prevalence rate was 8.5%. The mean age of clients was 34.22 ± 5.42 years while the mean parity was 3.51±1.47. About half of the clients sought contraception within 6 months of delivery. Implants were the most common method used (38.2%), followed by intrauterine contraceptive device (32%). Information on family planning was mainly from health personnel (39.4%). The contraceptive discontinuation rate was 13.8%, and it was mainly due to the desire for another pregnancy (39.7%). Age, Parity and marital status of the clients were significantly associated with discontinuation of a method (P<0.05). The contraceptive prevalence rate markedly increased over the five year period.

Conclusion: The uptake of family planning services in Port Harcourt, South-South Nigeria is relatively low. There is a need for promotion of family planning methods through female education and dissemination of information by health practitioners and the media.