Contraceptive usage among Jamaican women with sickle cell disease.
BACKGROUND
The usage of contraceptive methods in young women with sickle cell disease (SCD) and the factors affecting usage are unknown.


METHODS
Young women (N=132) with SCD attending the Sickle Cell Unit were interviewed regarding their contraceptive usage. SPSS version 12 was used for data analysis.


RESULTS
Sixty-four (48%) of women with SCD were using a contraceptive method. The more commonly used methods were condoms (n=25, 39%) and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) (n=18, 28%). Of the nonusers, 52% were not sexually active. The reasons for nonusage in sexually active women included the desire to become pregnant (17), belief that they were unable to get pregnant (11) and health concerns (7). A majority had been informed about contraceptive methods by a trained professional. Sixty-seven percent agreed with at least one of the common Jamaican myths regarding contraceptive usage.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that 92% of these women with SCD were using contraceptive methods or had reason not to do so. Subjects had been educated about contraceptive methods and appeared to be uninfluenced by local myths regarding contraceptive usage.
Knight-Madden
Jennifer
J
Sickle Cell Unit, Tropical Medicine Research Institute, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston 7, Jamaica. jennifer.knightmadden@uwimona.edu.jm
Barton-Gooden
Antoinette
A
D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007563:Jamaica; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate