Prevalence of Contraceptive Methods among Adolescent Girls
I. Blidaru (1), I. Caighera (2), R. Pleca (2), M. Roman (2)
(1)
-4th Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Gr. T. Popa” University of
Medicine and Pharmacy;
(2)
-Family Planning Unit, “Cuza-Voda” Maternity Hospital, Iasi, Romania
Objectives. The aims of our study were to assess the
level of contraception usage among teenagers, to assess the degree of
acceptability among different contraceptive methods and to estimate the tendency
towards contraception versus abortion in this age category.
Materials and Methods. Our study was conducted in the
Family Planning Unit from “Cuza Voda” Maternity Hospital over a period of
five years (2000 – 2004) and included a number of 11871 girls aged between 14
and 19, who have been counseled and examined in the Family Planning Unit, and
2221 women of the same age group, who requested abortion.
Results. Our study has showed a relatively constant level
of 19% in the number of consultations with the purpose of choosing a
contraceptive method in the studied age group, throughout the period. As regards
the various contraceptive methods, we recorded a net predominance in the use of
combined oral contraception (74%), also indicated in some cases for therapeutic
purposes for dysmenorrhoea, menorrhagia, polycystic ovary syndrome, etc. The
other types of contraceptive methods are significantly less preferred, e.g.
condom (15%), intrauterine device (5.3%), progestin-only-contraceptives (4.6%),
emergency contraception (0.8%). Unfortunately, we noted an increasing number of
patients who demand abortion (about 10%), but this should be considered with
caution, since it may be influenced by various other factors (traditions,
poverty, lack of education, etc).
Conclusions. These results point out the fact that
abortion still represents the commonest method to avoid unwanted pregnancies in
this age category, even though the contraceptive methods become better and
better known and used. Our study underlines the necessity to improve education
in the field of contraception, to ease the access to contraceptives and to
collaborate with the mass media and other institutions in the process of
information and education of the youth.