TRIAL OF A NEW METHOD OF NATURAL FAMILY-PLANNING IN LIBERIA

This paper describes the evaluation of a new method of natural family planning (NFP) in Liberia. The Modified Mucus Method (MMM) was develop ed to address the need for a simple method of charting for poor and il literate women. The acceptance, use, and cost-effectiveness of the MMM were compared with standard NFP methods, the sympto-thermal and ovula tion method (ST/OM), used in the same population. The personal discont inuation rate of MMM users was 27.3 per 100 women per year compared wi th 3.2 among ST/OM users. Unplanned pregnancy rates were low for both MMM and ST/OM, 6.6 and 1.5 respectively. The cost per couple year prot ection (CW) for MMM was $55.80 and for ST/OM $56.10. There were differ ences in characteristics between MMM and ST/OM clients. The MMM client s were more likely to have attended school and to have used a family p lanning method previously, and were less likely to be housewives. We c onclude that the MMM in Liberia was provided to an inappropriate sampl e of women, educated and middle-class rather than poor and illiterate. The MMM users were dissatisfied and discontinued at the rate of 44 pe r 100 women entering per year. This is an unfair evaluation of the MMM because of the unsuitable study population. It is our opinion that th e MMM needs more study to become part of the inventory of birth spacin g methods.