Use of Contraceptive Methods Among Women Seeking Safe Abortion Services in a Family Planning Center, Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract
Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the use of contraceptive methods among women seeking safe abortion services in a family planning center, Kathmandu. Methods: It was a descriptive cross sectional study undertaken among 119 women seeking safe abortion services from August 18 to September 2018 at Marie Stopes Center, Gongabu, Kathmandu. Non- probability purposive sampling technique was adopted and data were collected through face to face interview. The collected data was analyzed by SPSS version 16 using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Results: Among a total of 119 respondents enrolled in the study, a total of 90 (75.64%) women used post abortion contraceptive methods. Among them, nearly half (44; 48.9%) had used oral contraceptive pills and least users were IUCD (19; 14.4%). More than half (67; 56.3%) had terminated the current pregnancy due to the reason of completed family. Almost three-fifth of them (50; 57.47%) had history of discontinuation of family planning methods in the past due to side effects. Similarly, almost three-fifth (68; 57.1%) had preferred medical abortion for termination of the current pregnancy. There was statistically significant association between post abortion contraceptive use with educational level (p=0.01), parity (p=0.000), contraceptive use in past (p=0.012), plan of future pregnancy (p=0.001), and family planning discussion with husband/partner (p=0.000). Conclusion: There is an increasing trend in the use of some forms of post-abortion contraceptive measures in Nepal from 56.0% in 2014 to 75.64% in 2018 after surgical or medical abortion. Among the post-abortion contraceptive non-users, more than half denied use of post-abortion contraceptives due to fear of side effects. Hence, raising the knowledge, attitude, practice and social awareness of post-abortion contraceptive use among women of reproductive age groups would certainly reduce undue fear of the use of post-abortion contraceptive use, its side effects and also help to raise the acceptance and compliance of its use.