REASONS FOR PREGNANCY TERMINATION - NEGLIGENCE OR FAILURE OF CONTRACEPTION

Background The aim of the study was to analyze the reasons for the fai lure of contraception and the reasons for not using any contraception among women seeking a legal abortion on social grounds. The women were also asked about their knowledge of contraception methods, including postcoital contraception. Methods. We interviewed 200 women applying f or a legal abortion within the first trimester of pregnancy about cont raception, the contraceptive methods used, and the possible reasons fo r failure of contraception. Results. Of all the women interviewed, 93% claimed to have adequate knowlegde of contraception. At the time of c onception 11.5% used safe methods (OCs 8%, IUDs 3.5%), 63% used less s afe methods, and 26% were without contraception. Only 25% of the pill users had no explanation for the failure. 76.7% of the condom users re ported that the condom was broken, had slipped off or its use had been irregular. The concern about side effects was the most common reason for not using safe contraceptives (25%). Conclusions. The women claime d to have enough information about contraceptives, and postcoital cont raception was also familiar, but the knowledge on how to use them in p ractice was inadequate. Irregular use and breaks in contraception were common. Despite the data based on Pearl indices, pills failed twice a s often as IUDs. Counseling about the proper use of contraceptives is important, although the concern about the side effects appeared to be a big, unsolved problem.