Fertility Awareness-Based Contraception: Knowledge and Attitudes Among Nigerian Gynaecologists
Keywords:
Nigeria, Gynaecologists, Calendar Based Method, Basal Body Temperature, Mucus-focused Methods, Fertility Awareness-Based ContraceptionAbstract
Background: The under use of effective contraceptive methods among women at risk for unintended pregnancy is a major factor contributing to its high rate in Nigeria. Fertility Awareness-Based contraception are preferable alternatives for family planning by some due to its lack of side effects, and for religious and cultural reasons. They can play an important role in reducing unintended pregnancy rate in Nigeria. Despite its inclusion in the national family planning guidelines, there is limited awareness of the modern effective methods among clients. Since gynecologists play a pivotal role in information dissemination and provision of family planning methods, we sought to assess their knowledge and attitude to fertility awareness-based methods.
Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered to Nigerian gynaecologists after an oral informed consent. Data analysis was with descriptive statistics using SPSS v. 20.
Results: The age range of the respondents was 31-68 years, with a mean of 44.2 +/- 9.2 SD. The female respondents and those aged less than 50 years were 16 (14.5%) and 76 (69.1%) respectively. Billings Ovulation (78, 70.9%) and Calendar Rhythm (72, 65.5%) were the commonest methods provided by the respondents. However, 78 (70.9%) of them believed that they were less effective than
conventional contraceptives because their efficacy depends on cooperation of a partner (84, 76.4%) and on following the rules of the method (94, 85.5%).
Conclusion: The commonest fertility awareness-based contraception provided by Nigerian gynaecologists are the Billings Ovulation and Calendar Rhythm though they do not believe in their efficacy, because of their dependence on partners' cooperation.
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