Norplant: users' perspective in Pakistan.
Five hundred and eighteen Norplant acceptors (260 ever-users and 258 current users) were interviewed to assess their perceptions about Norplant. The mean age of the acceptors was 32.6+/-5.7 years (mean +/- SD). The mean parity was 4.3 and many of the users (40.2%) were illiterate. The most common reason to choose Norplant was its long duration of action (70.1%) followed by doctor's advice (10.4%) and use by other women (10.1%). Norplant was recommended by family planning workers in 35.3% cases, doctors in 29.2% cases and friends in 17.4% cases. Advertisement did not play any role in the women's choice of Norplant. In 77.3% cases, the decision to use Norplant was a joint decision. Only 15% of the users had fears/anxieties before insertion. Most of these women (44%) were concerned about possible ill-effects of Norplant on their health rather than efficacy. The social acceptance of Norplant was very high (76%) and more than half of the users (52.5%) were satisfied with the method. Among current users, 83.9% wanted to continue Norplant for 5 years. Only 39 users (15.1%) intended to discontinue. The main reason for discontinuation was menstrual disturbance (69.2%), followed by weight gain (12.7%). The study suggests that long duration of effective action and high social acceptance are likely to make Norplant a popular method among Pakistani women.
Rehan
N
N
Pakistan Medical Research Council, Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore.
Inayatullah
A
A
Chaudhary
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004343:Drug Implants; D004522:Educational Status; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D008875:Middle Aged; D009790:Occupations; D010154:Pakistan; D010298:Parity
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D004343:Drug Implants; D016912:Levonorgestrel