Intention of pregnant women for the postpartum use of intrauterine devices in Upper Egypt’s rural communities

Faculty of Medicine

Assiut University

Intention of pregnant women for the postpartum use of intrauterine devices in Upper Egypt’s rural communities

Research Authors
Mirette M Aziz, Amira F El-Gazzar
Research Date
Research Department
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine
Research Journal
The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care
Research Member
Mirette Mamdouh Wesly Aziz
Amira Fathy El-Sayed El-Gazzar
Research Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Research Vol
26
Research Year
2022
Research_Pages
421-428
Research Abstract

Abstract

Objectives

This study aims to assess pregnant women’s intention in rural Upper Egypt to use the copper-bearing intrauterine device (IUD) and to identify the factors influencing their intention to use the method.

Methods

The study was a household survey of 400 pregnant women in 16 villages in Assiut and Sohag Governorates in Upper Egypt.

Results

Only one third of the study participants (30.8%) had the intention to use IUD. Reasons of not intending to use IUD were; perceived pain during IUD insertion or removal (37.5%), perceived side effects (21.3%) and misconceptions (15.2%), husbands’ disapproval for using the method (15.8%) and the desire for future fertility (12.3%). Having a secondary or a higher level of education (OR (95% CI) = 1.726 (1.085–2.746), p = 0.01) and previous use of IUD (OR (95% CI) = 2.277 (1.108–4.678), p = 0.02) were the positive predictors of the intention to use IUD, while perception of husband opposition to IUD use (OR (95% CI) = 0.604 (0.379–0.964), p = 0.03) and perception of IUD related myths (OR (95% CI) = 0.893 (0.836–0.955), p = 0.004) were the negative predictors of the intention to use IUD.

Conclusion

The intention to use IUD is relatively low among pregnant women in rural Upper Egypt. Targeting pregnant women and their husbands with proper counselling regarding IUD use during antenatal care visits would greatly impact increasing their use of the method.