Implanon Uptake at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital Calabar, Nigeria: A Five Year Review

Background: Implanon is a modern hormonal contraceptive with a long-acting and reversible effect. It is effective for up to 3 years and can be given during breastfeeding, thus preventing early pregnancy in about 99% of breastfeeding mothers.  The current prevalence rate for contraceptive use in Nigeria is approximately 11%–15%. This rate is very low in spite of the high rate of sexual activity and widespread awareness of the various contraceptive methods among Nigerian adolescents and youths. Objective: To determine the socio-demographic profile of implanon acceptors, the side effects profile and reasons for discontinuation of the method in Calabar. Method: This was a five-year retrospective review of records of clients who accepted Implanon at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, Nigeria. Result: During the period under review, 311 clients accepted Implanon as a method of modern contraceptive in this tertiary facility. The mean age of users was 31.0  5.5SD. Of this number, 97.7% were Christians while 2.3% were Muslims. 93.6% of the clients had at least secondary education and above, 52.7% of the clients had three or more children at the point of accepting the method. However, 80.0% of them desired future fertility.