Family Planning in a Sub-district near Kumasi, Ghana: Side Effect Fears, Unintended Pregnancies and Misuse of a Medication as Emergency Contraception

• Published in: African journal of reproductive health 2011-09, Vol.15 (3), p.121-132
• Main Authors: Krakowiak-Redd, Daisy, Ansong, Daniel, Otupiri, Easmon, Tran, Sally, Klanderud, Dana, Boakye, Isaac, Dickerson, Ty, Crookston, Benjamin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Birth control; Complications and side effects; Condoms; Contraception; Contraception Behavior - psychology; Contraception, Postcoital; Contraceptives; Contraceptives, Postcoital; Emergency contraception; Family planning; Family Planning Services; Fear; Female; Female fertility; Ghana; Health aspects; Health Services Accessibility - statistics & numerical data; Health Services Misuse; Humans; Middle Aged; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Unplanned; Side effects; Social aspects; Surveys; Women; Womens health; Writing tablets; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1118-4841

The Barekuma Collaborative Community Development Project (BCCDP) performed a study regarding family planning in communities in the Barekese sub-district near Kumasi, Ghana in July 2010. Eighty-five women, ages 15-49 years, in three communities were interviewed with a modified version of the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. While virtually all women recognized at least one family planning method, half of all recent or current pregnancies were unintended and 20 percent of women had a previous abortion. Unexpectedly, 27 percent of women had misused norethisterone tablets (Primolut N or "N-tablets"), a synthetic progesterone, as emergency contraception. Women had a variety of concerns about family planning methods, including one-third having a fear of side effects for hormonal methods (particularly heart palpitations), as well as unfamiliarity with and particular aspects they did not like for most methods. However, women were interested in learning more about side effects as well as modern fertility awareness-based methods. There is an urgent need for interventions aimed at regulating and implementing the correct use of Primolut N tablets, addressing real and perceived side effects of family planning practices through properly trained community health nurses and introducing modern methods of fertility awareness such as Standard Days Method® and the Two-day Method® in the Barekese sub-district. (Afr J Reprod Health 2011; 15[3]: 135-147). Le Barekuma Collaborative Community Development Project(BCCDP) a mené une étude concernant la planification dans des communauté dans les sous districts de Barakese , près de Kumasi, Ghana au mois de juillet 2010. Quatre-vingt-cinq femmes âgées de 15-49 ans dans trois communautés ont été enquêtées à l'aide d'une version modifiée de l'Enquête Démographique et de Santé réalisée au Ghana. Tandis que presque toutes les femmes ont reconnu au moins une méthode de la planification familiale, la moitié de toutes les grossesses récentes ou actuelles étaient non voulues et 20% des femmes ont déjà eu un avortement. Alors qu'on ne s'y attendait pas, 27% des femmes ont abusé des comprimés de norethistérone (Primolut N ou « Comprimés-N ») une progestérone synthétique, comme une contraception d'urgence. Les femmes avaient pas mal de soucis concernant les méthodes de la planification familiale, y compris un tiers qui avaient peur des effets secondaires à l'égard des méthodes hormonales (surtout les palpitations cardiaques, aussi bien q