Medical termination of pregnancy and subsequent adoption of contraception

Background: The reasons for seeking MTP ranged from proximate causes such as desire to limit family size or space pregnancies, seeking abortion for medical reasons or availing it on medical advice to distal determinants such as poverty, violence and belief system. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to study the factors influencing MTPs & the subsequent adoption of contraceptive methods following MTP.Methods: The study subjects included women who underwent MTP at the hospital during the study period. The details regarding their socio demographic profile, previous obstetric history, reason for seeking abortion and acceptance of post abortal contraception were taken.Results: 103 women who sought MTP during the study period were included in the study. Among the MTP seekers 22 (21.4%) women had history of one or more abortions in the recent past. Most of the study subjects i.e., 41 (39.8%) sought MTP for socio-economic reasons. The other conditions were eugenic reasons among 40 (38.9%) and medical reasons 10 (9.1%), only 12 (11.6%) women sought MTP for contraceptive failure. Adoption of contraception following MTP was seen only among 52 (50.5%).Conclusions: Eligible couples have to be educated regarding the availability of different methods of contraceptives and their proper use to avoid pregnancy as long as they want. Similarly, all MTP seekers should be provided information and counseling for post-abortal contraceptive use and enable these women and their spouse to make an informed and voluntary choice and thus avoid the need of a repeat abortion.