Demand for Long-Acting and Permanent Contraceptive Methods Among Kurdish Women in Mahabad, Iran

Abstract

It is anticipated that the demand for contraceptives in Iran will increase in the near future as the number of women of reproductive age increases and with women wanting smaller families. The aim of this paper was to study the demand for long-acting and permanent contraceptive methods (LAPCMs), and its determinants, among Kurdish women in Mahabad city, Iran. Data were taken from the Mahabad Fertility Survey (MFS) conducted on a sample of over 700 households in April 2012. The results show that the demand for LAPCMs was 71.35% at the time of survey, although only 27.7% of women were using these methods. Thus, the number of unintended pregnancies is likely to increase in the future if this gap is not reduced. The multivariate analysis showed significant impacts on the dependent variables of the number of children ever born, perceived contraceptive costs and childbearing intentions. Moreover, women at the end of their reproductive lives and those with higher education were more likely to desire LAPCMs. It is concluded that despite a growing use of contraceptive methods in Iran in recent decades, the development of reproductive health services and promotion of the quality of family planning services remains a necessity.

Factors Affecting the Use of Long-Acting and Permanent Contraceptive Methods Among Married Women of Reproductive Age in East of Iran

“…This finding was consistent with the results of a study carried out in Mahabad, a city in the North West of Iran (18). On the other hand, this rate is very low when compared to some Asian countries such as India (16).…”

Demand for long acting contraceptive methods among married HIV positive women attending care at public health facilities at Bahir Dar City, Northwest Ethiopia

“…This difference might be due to socio-demographic and economic variation. However, this finding was almost in line with the study done in Mahabad, Iran (27.7 %) [ 31 ].…”

“…Demand for LACMs was six times more likely in respondents who want birth after two years, and eight times more likely in respondents who want no more children as compared to those who want birth within two years period. This finding is supported by studies conducted at Central Ethiopia [ 30 ] and Iran [ 31 ].…”

“…Demand for LACMs in this study was much lower than the study done in Mahabad, Iran (71.35 %) [ 31 ]. The possible explanation for this difference might be due to socio-demographic and geographical variation.…”

Curbing publicly-funded family planning services in Iran: who is affected?

“…We should remember from history that the implementation of such shortsighted pronatalist policies in a few countries in the past can result in a temporary short-lived fertility rise along with a sharp rise in maternal morbidity and mortality, related to unintended pregnancies terminated by unsafe abortions 19. Also, though Iranian domestic pharmaceutical products, including contraceptives, are generally affordable for the vast majority of people, curbing the provision of family planning services differentially affects young and poor women who are not able to afford the cost of contraceptives,20 and elevates the existing unmet need for modern contraceptive methods 21 22. Limited access to legal means of contraception and abortion will not result in increased fertility because women are more likely to seek an unsafe, illegal abortion instead of continuing with an unwanted pregnancy 23.…”