Discontinuation of long‐acting reversible contraception versus short‐term hormonal methods in urban Ghana: A pilot longitudinal study

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144677/1/ijgo12518.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144677/2/ijgo12518_am.pd

Maternity care provider knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding provision of postpartum intrauterine contraceptive devices at a tertiary center in Ghana

ObjectiveTo assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of maternity care providers regarding the provision of postpartum intrauterine contraceptive devices (IUDs) in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, Ghana.MethodsA descriptive, cross‐sectional study was conducted between June 28 and July 15, 2011. Specialists, residents, house officers, and nurse midwives who had been working in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for at least 3 months were included. Self‐administered questionnaires assessed formal training, current proficiency in IUD insertion, and attitudes toward postpartum IUD provision.ResultsOf 91 providers surveyed, 70 (77%) reported previous training in contraceptive counseling. Fewer than one in three respondents had ever inserted an IUD: 17 (44%) of 39 physicians and 9 (17%) of 52 midwives reported ever having inserted an IUD. A total of 33 (36%) respondents reported that they would recommend an IUD in the immediate postpartum period.ConclusionAlthough most maternity care providers at KATH had received training in contraceptive counseling, few felt confident in their ability to insert an IUD. Further training in postpartum contraceptive management is needed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135552/1/ijgo137.pd

Reproductive experiences of teenagers in the Ejisu-Juabeng district of Ghana.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportions of male and female teenagers aged 15-19 years who have ever been involved in pregnancy, and to examine factors associated with involvement in teenage pregnancy in the Ejisu-Juabeng district of Ghana. METHODS: In a household-based cross-sectional survey, 481 randomly selected male and female teenagers were enrolled between August 3 and September 17, 2009. Study variables included demographics; sexual exposure; contraceptive use; and involvement in pregnancy, childbirth, and induced abortion. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between involvement in pregnancy, and the background and reproductive profiles of the respondents via SPSS version 16.0. RESULTS: Both the mean and median ages of the respondents were 17.2 years. One-third of respondents lived with both parents, and one-third lived with single mothers. The median age of sexual debut was 16.0 years. Approximately 58% of sexually experienced females had been pregnant, and 37% had had an induced abortion. Age at sexual debut, gender, and being out of school were significantly associated with involvement in teenage pregnancy, whereas residential status, relationship with first partner, and contraceptive use were not. CONCLUSION: Keeping adolescents enrolled in school might reduce their risk of involvement in pregnancy in the Ejisu-Juabeng district of Ghana