Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations

Abstract

Objective: To explore preconceptional family planning attitudes in patients who delivered at term and causes of unplanned pregnancies. To explore contraception preferences in these patients.
Methods: This study was conducted in Zekai Tahir Burak Teaching and Research Hospital between September 2013 and February 2014. A questionnaire was administered face to face (n=475). Demographic findings, level of education, family type, level of income, preconceptional planning, preconceptional and postpartum contraception preferences were questioned. These data were recorded with neonatal outcomes.
Results: Three hundred sixty five (76.8%) patients stated that they preconceptionally planned their pregnancies. There were 110 (23.2%) women who defined their gestation as unplanned. The frequency of preconceptionally planned pregnancies were higher in nulliparous women (88.4%) than multiparous women (67.9%) (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between planned and unplanned pregnancies with respect to financial income, infant’s birth weight, and hemoglobin levels at delivery. However, educational level of the patients were significantly lower in patients with unplanned pregnancy (p<0.001). The time interval since last pregnancy was longer in patients with unplanned pregnancy and they were more motivated to use any kind of postpartum contraception (p<0.001). In planned pregnancies, the frequency of preconceptional gynecologic examination and using folic acid supplements were 32.9% and 16%, respectively.
Conclusion: In our study, it was noticed that educational level of the women was a prominent factor on whether the pregnancy was planned or not. Family planning trainings must be structured according to the educational level of the couples and awareness about family planning must be increased.