Pattern of contraceptives choice among the married women attending the family planng clinic of a tertiary health institution

Background: Rampant population growth is the most fundamental problem of our times. It affects adversely the advancement of nations and the wellbeing of all peoples. The fertility rate in Nigeria remains high at a national average of about 5.2 children per woman. When a woman effectively uses a modern method of contraceptive she is less likely to be exposed to the hazards of grand multiparity, and also unlikely to resort to dangerous illegal abortion. Method: This is a retrospective study, a review of the records of the family planning clinic of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo was undertaken. These were new clients coming for the first time to the family planning clinic of the institution from January, 2001 to December 2006. Result: A total of 1355 married women were coming for the first time to the family planning clinic within the study period, and their age range between 18 and 51 years with a mean of 33.5+6.1 years. 170 (12.5%) were Para 1, Para 2-4 were 855 (63.1%), while Para 5 and above were 330 (24.4%). The clients source of information about family planning was: family planning clinic personnel 1039 (76.7%), media (print and electronic) 152 (11.2%), friends and relatives 127 (9.4%), and community health workers 37 (2.7%). Intrauterine contraceptive device was the most chosen method by the clients 1011 (74.6%), while condom was the least chosen 3 (0.2%); 264 (19.5%), and 77 (5.7%) clients chose injectables and pills, respectively. Conclusion: An increase in the level of knowledge on modern contraceptive methods through mass and interpersonal communications could be one of the key strategies to increase the utilization rate of modern contraceptive methods. Nigerian Journal of Medicine Vol. 17 (1) 2008 pp. 67-7