Contraceptive knowledge, attitudes and changing practices in women presenting to maternal and child health clinics in North Central Trinidad.
The relationship between contraceptive awareness and use in an environment of both high levels of unplanned pregnancies and prevalence of HIV/AIDS continues to be a major challenge. The objective of this study is to ascertain the knowledge of contraception and methods chosen in women of 18-45 years old attending primary care facilities in North Central Trinidad.


METHODS
We used a cross-sectional study design with a knowledge, attitude, and practices type survey design. Five primary care facilities were selected using cluster sampling. All participants eligible for entry into the study were administered a structured, pretested questionnaire.


RESULTS
269 participants were enrolled in the study. The majority (88%) had good knowledge of contraceptive methods, yet this knowledge was not translated into the prevention of pregnancies as 64.3% had had an unplanned pregnancy. The male condom is now the predominant method of contraception.


CONCLUSIONS
The study provides evidence on the level of knowledge of contraception methods and their use, as well as attitudes and practices among women who are pregnant or who recently completed a pregnancy. Although the knowledge of contraception methods was relatively high, attitudes and practice remain unacceptable and the male condom is now the predominant method of choice.
Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mt Hope, Trinidad.
Analissa
A
Saroop
Deyanta
D
Dipchan
Michaela
M
Hill
Summer
S
Manswell
Kristal
K
Ragbir
Barry
B
Raghunanan
Omesh
O
Toolsie
Kameel
K
Mungrue
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000639:trends*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago