Abstract:
To identify factors influencing adherence to oral
contraceptive regimens, a cross-sectional descriptive
study was conducted in 15 health units offering family
planning services in Dar es Salaam city.
Between
August arid November 1993, 752 oral contraceptive users
attending selected health units providing family
planning services were randomly selected to participate
in the study.
consenting women were interviewed by
\
using structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done
by using SPSs/pc+. Frequency tables and cross-
tabulation were initially done to explore primary
association between variables. stratified analyses was
done to asses potential confounding. To adjust for
multiple con~u~gers, multivariate analyses was
performed using mu Lt i.p Le logistic regression.
Model
was fitted to identify determinants of non-compliance
to oral contraceptive use.
statistical association
were
assessed
by
using
the
Chi-square
test.
Associations were considered significant if p-value was
found to be less than 0.05. Five hundred eighty four
(77.7%) respondents were compliant, while one hundred
f sixty eight (22.3%) were non-compliant. Compliance was
associated with high level of proper knowledge on how
to take the pills and correct knowledge on what to do
when one pill is missed. Non-compliance was found to
iii
be more common
among women who were younger,
uneducated, having more than three children, not
preferring oral contraceptives, and those reporting to
have
experienced
pill
related
side effects.
Respondents were also found to have low knowledge of
other methods of contraception besides condom,
injectables and IUCD.
Knowledge about side effects
of pills and what to do when two or more pills are
missed was generally lacking.
Majority of respondents
were using pills to space their next birth and only one
third reported to have experienced pill related side
,
effects.
These findings indicated the need for
continued information to clients on how to take pills
and what to do when they miss one or more pills. More
information about other family planning methods is
required to
increase their
awareness
in this
population.
The family planning unit within the
Ministry of Health should be able to inco-orporate this
information
in
their
ongoing
community
based
Information Education and Communication activities.
