Factors affecting compliance to oral contraceptive pill use among women of child bearing age 15 - 49 years, in Dar es Salaam, 1993

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.