TITLE:
Progestogen-Only Injectable Contraceptives: The Profile of the Acceptors, Side Effects and Discontinuation in a Low Resource Setting, Nigeria
AUTHORS:
Charles O. Njoku, Cajethan I. Emechebe, Christopher U. Iklaki, Amarachukwu N. Njoku, Jenkins T. Ukaga
KEYWORDS:
Injectable, Progestogen, Depot-Provera, Contraceptives, Side Effects, Calabar
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.6 No.4,
March
11,
2016
ABSTRACT: Progestogen-only injectable contraceptive is a
highly effective, long lasting and reversible agent of fertility control. The objective
is to determine the profile of the acceptors, side effects and indication for
discontinuation of progestogen-only injectable contraceptives at UCTH, Calabar.
This was a retrospective study of the clients who used progestogen-only
injectable contraceptives at the family planning unit between 1st January 2008 and 31st December 2014. A total of 1392 clients used the
injectable progestogen-only contraceptive out of 5986 total contraceptive users
giving the prevalence rate of 23.3% over the period. Of these, 60.4% of the
clients accepted the depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, while 39.6% accepted the
norethisterone enanthate. It was mostly utilized by multiparous women, clients
with tertiary education and those in their third decade of life. Secondary amenorrhea
was the commonest side effect in 47.7% of the clients. Over the study period,
243 (19.8%) discontinued the method and 48.1% discontinued due to secondary
amenorrhea while 31.4% was due to desire to get pregnant. Progestogen-only injectable
contraceptive was associated with multiple side-effects, with secondary
amenorrhea being the most common, and menstrual irregularity was the main
reason for discontinuation. Providing adequate information to clients about
this method of contraception and its probable side effects, supportive
counseling during initiation of contraception and re-enforcement during
follow-up visit can go a long way in enhancing patient satisfaction and hence
continuation of progestogen-only injectable contraceptive despite minor side
effects.