Factors affecting the contraceptive choice in a developing country

Objectives: To evaluate the factors affecting the contraceptive choice of w omen in a developing country. Methods: Demographic characteristics, educati on and income level, previous and current contraceptive choices of the wome n from a maternity and a university hospital were retrospectively reviewed for 2 years. The data obtained from the two hospitals were analyzed by Stud ent's t- and chi(2)-tests. Results: Family planning services were offered t o 651 and 7427 women in the university and the maternity hospital, respecti vely. Although the mean ages and income levels of the women in two centers were similar, the women in the university hospital had lower mean gravidity and mean number of living child, while they had higher education level and previous modern contraceptive use (P < 0.05-0.001). The women in the unive rsity hospital more frequently preferred combined oral contraceptive and su rgical sterilization, while those in the maternity hospital chose condom an d intrauterine device (P < 0.01-0.001). Conclusions: Women with higher educ ation level had a lower number of pregnancies and living children due to mo re frequent use of previous effective contraception and they chose combined oral contraceptives and irreversible methods more frequently. (C) 1999 Int ernational Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.