title: Review of postpartum contraceptive practices at Chiang Mai University Hospital: implications for improving quality of service.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the acceptance rate and patterns of contraceptive use among postpartum women.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of 1,009 postpartum women attending the Family Planning Clinic at Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand, during January to December 2009 were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 28.2 ± 5.7 years (range 15-48). Almost all 920 women (91.2%) practiced breastfeeding. The acceptance rate of contraception was 97.6%. The types of contraceptive used were: depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, 387 (38.4%); progestin-only pills, 262 (26.0%); tubal resection, 201 (19.9%); male condom, 78 (7.7%); oral combined pills, 49 (4.9%); intrauterine device, 5 (0.5%); implant, 3 (0.3%). Among women undergoing tubal resection, 29 (14.4%) were ≤24 years of age. Significant independent predictors for using long-acting reversible contraception were young age and little or no formal education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The acceptance rate of contraception in this study was high. However, the following issues need to be evaluated: compliance of women using progestin-only pills, awareness of long-acting reversible contraception as an alternative option in women considering sterilization, and interventions to promote the use of intrauterine devices and implants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Somsak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaovisitsaree
authors.forename: Supranee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noi-um
authors.forename: Chumnan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kietpeerakool
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003376:Counseling; D003906:Developing Countries; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D049590:Postpartum Period; D058996:Quality Improvement; D013785:Thailand; D055815:Young Adult