PERCEIVED SIDE CONTRACEPTIVES IN WESTERN ETHIOPIA EFFECTS OF ORAL JIMMA TOWN, SOUTH

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Misinformation and misperception seem to be the major barrier in contraceptive use. Rarely, Surveys have attempted to assess the effect of oral contraceptive and the associated misperception on clients' perspective. The aim of the study was to assess the perception of women of childbearing age on the side effects of oral contraceptive and associated rumors.

METHODS: A cross-sectional community based study was conducted in Jimma town in the month of November 2003. Nine of the 27 kebeles in Jimma town were included in the study and the 1067 sample size was distributed to each kebeles based on proportional to size allocation. Respondents were selected by systematic random sampling and interviewed using structured and pretested questionnaire. Data were entered in to SPSS-11 for window soft ware program and analyzed using multivariate analysis with logistic regression and tests.

RESULTS: A total of 1031 respondents were interviewed with a response rate of 96.6%. Most of the respondents were: in the age group 15-24(46%), housewives (58%), Oromos (38%) and Orthodox Christians (59%). Ninety-six percent of the respondents knew oral contraceptive but only 43% of them ever used it. Older women and grand multipara were two times likely to use oral contraceptive. The commonest Reasons of not using contraceptives among married women were fear of side effects (37%), need of more children (32%) and religions reasons (22%). Headache (30%), extreme weakness (24%), sterility (20%) and depression (17%) were the most wide spread rumors on the effect of pills. From all the study subjects, 45%, 33% and 10% of them thought that oral contraceptive causes anemia, permanent sterility and birth defects respectively. Only 38% and 6% of women respectively believes that oral contraceptive causes heart problems and stroke.

CONCLUSION: Rumors and misperception on the effect of oral contraceptive are widespread in the community. Intensive counseling and information education communication (IEC) should be given af various health services to rectify the rumors and misperception and to increase the prevalence and sustainable use of oral contraceptive.