Reasons for not applying safe contraceptive methods in women using withdrawal method in Amol city, 2003

Background and Withdrawal method is one of the most common contraceptive ways (% 23) nationwide. With regard to its relatively high failure rate (% 4-23) with unwanted pregnancies as well as resulted complications, this descriptive study was conducted to find out the reasons for not applying safe contraceptive methods. Subject population consisted of 379 married women between 15 and 45 living in Amol city and using withdrawal method. The subjects were selected through different stages with final randomization Data were collected by a questionnaire in which personal, social, and obstetrical history, and reasons for using withdrawal method as well as for not applying other methods were documented. The validity and reliability of the tool were determined by content validity and test-re test method respectively. Pearson coefficient of correlation as well as t-test and ANOVA were used for quantitative and qualitative variables respectively. Findings showed that the mean age of subjects was 28.1 ± 6.4, who had used withdrawal method at least for 3 months. Mean duration in using withdrawal method was 53.6 ± 6.6 months. Health care workers were considered the most frequent source of information (%26.6) and the main reasons for not applying safe contraceptive methods included fear of side effects (% 28.2), husband opposition (% 28.2), contraindication (% 9) Lactation (% 8.7) and indifference to conception (% 7.7). The most common reasons for applying withdrawal method were husband preference (% 25.1), having less complications (% 20.3), availability (% 19.5) and being safer than other methods (% 12.7). It can be concluded that much more efforts should be made to devise and perform family planning programs correctly, and training health care workers continuously and finally educating people either by mass media or by professionals to encourage applying safe contraceptive methods.