A COMPARISON OF PROGESTERONE ONLY INJECTABLE CONTRACEPTIVES AT A TERTIARY HOSPITAL IN PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE

Nonye-Enyidah Esther Ijeoma*, Wekere Felix Chikaike Clement and Enyidah Nonyenim Solomon

ABSTRACT

Background: Progesterone only injectable contraceptives (POICs) are safe, slow release, long acting reversible preparations lasting for 2-3 months. Objective: To determine the use prevalence of POICs, and compare the use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and norethisterone enanthate (Noristerat) at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt (RSUTH). Methods: This was a retrospective comparative study of 432 clients that used POICs at the family planning clinic of RSUTH from 1st January, 2008 – 31st December, 2017. Their records were retrieved from the clinic and reviewed. Data was extracted, coded and analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) IBM version 25.0 (Armonk, NY). Chi square test was used as test of significance where applicable and a p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of POICs among 1893 contraceptive acceptors during the study period was 432 (22.8%). Depo-provera was more preferred by the women. Age and parity had significant effects on the preferred injectable contraceptive with P values <0.001 (95% CI: 0.000, 0.000) and 0.002 (95% CI: 0.000, 0.001) respectively. The POICs acceptors were between the ages of 19 and 51 years. The mean age + SD for POICs acceptors was 32.0 + 4.95 years. The modal parity was para 4. Most (98.8%) of the acceptors had formal education, were married 412 (95.4%) and multiparous 287 (66.4%). Conclusion: The uptake rate of POICs is low and Depo-provera was more popular. Age and parity had significant effects on the contraceptive choice.

Keywords: Contraception, Depo provera, Noristerat, Comparison, RSUTH.