Evaluation on the Level of Knowledge and Use of Contraception Methods Among Women and Girls in Elbasan

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the level of knowledge as well as the use of contraceptives among 300 women and girls in the city of Elbasan. Methods The study was conducted for a period of 5 months (April-August 2013), based on direct and half structured interviews carried on in the residences of girls and women in 6 administrative units of the Municipality of Elbasan. The participants are individually interviewed. Results Out of 300 interviewed women and girls, 292 (97.3%) have heard for at least one contraception method, (91,4%) of them recognize the condom as the contraception method as well as a protecting method against STI, 142 (47.3%) of them recognize the emergency contraception as an effective method against an unintended pregnancy. 72.2 % of them have received the information on contraceptives from their friends, 23,5% of them from media, 4.3% of them from the Health Personnel. Only 198 (66.1%) women and girls were using the contraceptive method including here the natural method. Meanwhile, 45 (15%) of interviewed women and girls were using the modern contraceptive method. Although couples have decided to regulate the number of births (67%), still they did not prefer the modern contraceptive method due to the fact that: 59,3% justified it with their husband‟s disapproval ,14,4% of them were afraid of the side effects caused by the contraceptives. Besides, 27,8% of them said that they will attend the Health Centers to take the contraceptives and the services from the RH. Conclusion Although the contraception and the contraceptive methods are familiar to the population they are used by a small number of people, 72,2% have received the information on contraception from their friend and only 4,3 % of them have received this information from the health personnel. 198 (66.1%) of them were using one contraceptive method. Meanwhile, 45 (15%) of interviewed women and girls were using the modern contraceptive method. Couples had decided to regulate the number of births (67%) but they did not prefer the modern contraceptive method due to disapproval of their husband, this group comprises 59,3%. Besides, 27,8% of the interviewed women and girls said that they will attend the Health Centers to take the contraceptives and the services from the RH while 25,6% of them had not deiced yet.Keywords: women, contraception, contraceptive method, active sexual age