title: Change in trend of contraceptive uptake--effect of educational leaflets and counseling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study was conducted to determine the impact of counseling and educational leaflets on contraceptive practices of couples.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomization of 600 women was done in two groups matched for age, parity and socioeconomic status at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Shifa Foundation Community Health Centre, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan. In Group A, the intervention group was exposed to contraceptive counseling and educational leaflets in the postnatal ward after delivery, whereas in Group B, the nonintervention group was not given any formal contraceptive advice. Later on, both groups were assessed regarding their contraceptive practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At their follow-up visit (8-12 weeks) postpartum, 19 (6.3%) women in the nonintervention group had started contraceptive use, whereas 153 (50.8%) had decided to start contraception in the next 6 months, and 129 (42.8%) women were still undecided. The main contraceptive user was the male partner (n=117, 38.8%), and the most common method used was coitus interruptus (n=62, 36.3%). In the intervention group, 170 women (56.9%) had started using contraceptives, whereas 129 (43.1%) had decided to start contraceptive use in the next 6 months. The predominant contraceptive user was the females (n=212-70.9%), and the most popular method chosen was oral contraceptive pills (n=111, 37.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a definite increase in contraceptive uptake in women provided with educational leaflets and counseling session with a shift toward use of more reliable contraceptive methods.
authors.affiliation: Shifa College of Medicine, Gynecology/Obstetrics, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan. gsaeed33@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Gulshan Ara
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.forename: Shazia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fakhar
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rahim
authors.forename: Sabir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tabassum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception / Q000639:trends*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000639:trends*; D003376:Counseling / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*