Modern Contraceptive Choice Among Patients Seen at the “Cameroon National Planning Association for Family Welfare” Clinic Yaoundé

Abstract

BACKGROUNDTo understand the low modern contraceptive prevalence in Cameroon, we reviewed the methods chosen and determined their side effects among patients in an urban setting.METHODSWe conducted a cross-sectional study at the “Cameroon National Planning Association for Family Welfare (CAMNAFAW) Clinic” in Yaoundé. Data were processed by SPSS software version 20.0 for Windows, and all tests were considered statistically significant at P < .05.RESULTSOf the 1180 women sampled, the most chosen methods were as follows: depot medroxy progesterone acetate: 72.1% (787 of 1091), followed by oral combined contraceptives: 21.3% (232 of 1091), subcutaneous implants: 3.2% (35 of 1091), and intrauterine contraceptive devices: 1.9% (21 of 1091). A hundred and forty two (14.5%) of the 977 women received at least once (revisits) at the Center, reported at least one side effect. Irregular vaginal bleeding was the most frequent side effect: 44.6% (84 of 188 total documented side effects). Side effects were most common among users of subcutaneous implants: 28% (7 of the 25 implant users).CONCLUSIONSPrescription of contraceptives should reflect not only the desire of couples but also the side effects associated with each method. This would optimize observance and adherence, consequently decreasing the failure rate.

Unmet Need for Family Planning and Experience of Unintended Pregnancy Among Female Sex Workers in Urban Cameroon: Results From a National Cross-Sectional Study

“…In Cameroon, LARCs are intended to be available through hospitals and selected clinics that provide family planning and reproductive health services. 34,35 However, a recent evaluation indicates that stock-outs prevail, with 70%-80% of facilities reporting stock-outs of each offered LARC method on the day of assessment. 36 The unmet need for contraception results in high numbers of unintended pregnancies.…”

Trends and patterns of family planning methods used among women attending family planning clinic in a rural setting in sub-Sahara Africa: the case of Mbalmayo District Hospital, Cameroon

“…The most commonly used FP methods were implants and IUD in 29.4 and 28.4% of the participants respectively while the least used was condoms in 8.3% of the participants. The absence of male participants could be explained by the fact that FP is conceived by Cameroonians as concerning women coupled to the fact the FP clinic is located in the maternity widely attended by females [ 4 ]. Similar results with females predominant in FP have been gotten elsewhere in Cameroon [ 4 ] and Nigeria [ 3 ].…”

“…The absence of male participants could be explained by the fact that FP is conceived by Cameroonians as concerning women coupled to the fact the FP clinic is located in the maternity widely attended by females [ 4 ]. Similar results with females predominant in FP have been gotten elsewhere in Cameroon [ 4 ] and Nigeria [ 3 ]. A recent study by Njamen et al [ 13 ] in Douala Cameroon on acceptability of vasectomy demonstrated a low acceptability rate of vasectomy, a form of male contraception, by men influenced by sociocultural and religious barriers.…”

“…This allows women to have control over their own health and have children when they are ready [ 3 ]. Family planning and contraceptive methods are key issues in reproductive health [ 4 ]. According to reports of the international conference on population and development that held in Cairo in 1994, reproductive health includes the right of men and women to be informed and to have access to safe, effective, affordable, and acceptable methods of FP of their choice for regulation of fertility [ 1 , 5 ].…”

“…The family planning clinic of the maternity service, Mbalmayo District Hospital (MDH), provides a complete suite of sexual and reproductive health services since 2016: intrauterine devices (IUDs), implants (levonorgestrel [LNG]), depot medroxy progesterone acetate (DMPA) also called Depo-Provera, combined oral contraceptives (COC), progesterone-only contraceptives (POP), emergency contraceptive pills, and condoms. Given that few studies have evaluated the contraceptive choices in Cameroon [ 4 , 7 – 11 ] and no study has evaluated family planning methods in Mbalmayo since the inception of the family clinic in 2016, we conducted this study to review the contraception practice among patients attending the FP clinic of MDH. The study aimed specifically to determine the rate of contraceptive use and describe the trends and pattern of contraceptive use in this FP clinic.…”