STUDY ON KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF MODERN CONTRACEPTIVES AMONG TEENAGE PREGNANT MOTHERS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

To assess the modern contraceptive knowledge and use among teenage pregnant mothers at a tertiary care hospital. METHOD The study was a cross sectional descriptive study using a pre tested interviewer administered questionnaire. All teenage pregnant mothers attending the antenatal clinic of the professorial unit at the De Soyza Hospital for Women were recruited to the study. Study was conducted for a period of 18 months from December 2005. Approval was obtained from the ethical review committee at the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo. Results were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for windows version 15. RESULTS 239 teenage pregnant mothers participated in the study. Only primary education was received by 11.3% of teenage mothers (n=27) and secondary education was received by 87.8%, (n=210). No awareness of any contraceptive method was seen in 49.0% of the study population (n=117) while 48.5% had knowledge on oral contraceptive pills (OCP) (n=116); 43.5 % and 32.6% had awareness for condoms (n=104) and depot medroxy progesterone acetate (DMPA) (n=78) respectively. Knowledge of other contraceptive rnrrhods was reported in 13% (n=3). Only 143%. of the population has used any modern method of contraception (n=34). OCP and DMPA were used by 8.8%, (n=21) and 3.8 %,( n=9) of teenage mothers respectively while 2.5% of their husbands used condoms