PERCEPTION AND UPTAKE OF CONTRACEPTION AMONG HEALTH WORKERS IN IFE CENTRAL LOCAL GOVERNMENT, ILE-IFE
Authors:
IMARALU John
Publication Type: Journal article
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Abstract
Objective: This study was carried out to assess the perception of health workers towards contraceptive methods, determine the proportion of health workers using modern contraceptive methods and identify factors influencing their contraceptive practice.
Methods: A cross sectional descriptive survey of 300 practicing nurses in the health facilities within Ile-Ife, Nigeria was done using pre-tested, self-administered semi-structured questionnaires.
Results: Most of the respondents were less than 30years, married, multiparous and had practised for more than 2years. The prevalence of contraception was 77.1% for all methods, and 75.2% for modern methods. About a third of the staff nurses, nursing officers and midwives had poor knowledge of injectables and oral contraceptive pills (33.6-37.7%). Twenty six percent of respondents believed that contraception should be limited to women who had completed their families, while 32.4% were either uncertain or disagreed with the safety of contraceptives. Majority of the matrons used the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD), while condoms were favoured by the other cadres. The desire for another pregnancy was the main reason for discontinuing contraception (51.2%).
Conclusion: Knowledge and perception of contraception among nurses is in Ile-Ife is relatively poor. Ensuring accurate information on contraception among this target group of health workers is an important step towards achieving success in the national family planning programme.
