Post-Abortion Contraceptive Acceptance and Determinant Factors

The goal of a recent study was to evaluate post-abortion contraceptive acceptance and factors influencing contraceptive use.

In this prospective observational study, 468 women seeking abortion care at a tertiary care center were included. Data were gathered using a pre-structured questionnaire, and participants were counseled on contraceptive options. Contraceptive choices were recorded, and follow-up was conducted after a month.

The results showed that the post-abortion contraception acceptance was 73.08%. The age range of a majority of the participants was 21-30 years (62.82%) – who hailed from lower socioeconomic backgrounds (43.16%), and 78.62% were homemakers. Factors positively associated with contraceptive acceptance included age, education level, and prior contraceptive use. The most accepted methods were tubectomy (24.35%) and barrier contraception (20.51%). At the one-month follow-up, 69.24% continued using the same method, while 5.1% changed contraceptive modalities. Reasons for not following contraception included – religious beliefs, partner opposition, fear of side effects, and the desire to conceive soon.

While post-abortion contraceptive utilization is high, it can be further improved through education and counseling, especially in rural areas with limited access. Family planning counseling during abortion care plays a vital role in increasing contraceptive use, potentially reducing maternal morbidity and mortality.

Source: Gayathri S, Baipadithaya A S, Vipulachandra Y, et al. Indian J Obstet Gynecol Res 2024;11(3):393-397