Contraception counselling during gynecology visit — does a questionnaire help?

Abstract

Objectives: Women are at risk of unplanned pregnancy and inappropriate choice of contraception if not given effective
contraception counselling. We aimed to understand the contraceptive needs of women, improve effective contraception
counselling promoting modern contraception methods during gynecology outpatient visit using a contraception counselling
questionnaire.
Material and methods: All reproductive-age women over 18 were given Contraception Counselling Project Form to fill in
while in the waiting room. The form consisted of 15 questions evaluating patients’ characteristics and contraceptive method
used. Physicians evaluated these forms during the examination and an appropriate method was chosen. Forms of pregnant,
postmenopausal and sexually inactive patients as well as forms with more than one answer missing were excluded.
Results: 778 questionnaires were accepted for evaluation. 340 women (43.8%) used modern contraception, 112 (14.4%)
used interrupted coitus, 3 (0.4%) used calendar method. 738 women could be given adequate contraception counselling
by the physicians. 215 women among 323 women (66.5%) who did not use modern contraception and did not desire
pregnancy, were convinced to use modern contraception and 103 (91.9%) among 112 women who used interrupted
coitus for contraception were convinced to use modern contraception. There was a significant relationship between age,
education, working state, parity, number and type of delivery, previous OCP usage, resources of contraception and the
preferred contraception method.
Conclusions: More than half the women preferred to use modern contraception methods by means of contraception
counselling questionnaire. Women’s backgrounds significantly affected their choice of contraception method.