Sterilization of the Female: A Positive Approach to Family Limitation

Abstract

A study has been made of the effect of a vigorous family planning campaign on one particular aspect of family limitation, namely female sterilization. The increase in numbers seeking operation suggests that, over the country as a whole, the method is not being employed as often as it could be, though it is emphasized that operation, as well as other methods of contraception, are not likely to make impact on the population problem unless there is a defined national policy.

Demand for surgical sterilization among patients in a district maternity hospital

“…Even if, after further discussion and thought, only 50% of the second group still wished for sterilization, this would give a rate of 60 sterilizations per 1,000 confinements as the potential need for this service. It is interesting to note that this rate is identical with that found in those departments of obstetrics reporting a liberal policy in this regard (Buckle and Loung, 1971). As many of the women were young and obviously had not completed their families, enquiry was made as to whether these patients believed that they might eventually desire sterilization as a method of contraception.…”

“…Davidson and Donald (1972) reported the results of 810 procedures, mostly laparoscopic tubal coagulation, and this series contained no deaths, although a small number of patients required subsequent laparotomy. No deaths were noted in 1,489 cases recorded in the Birmingham region during 1972, and while Buckle and Loung (1971) recorded two deaths in 1,289 cases and Murdoch (1969) estimated the mortality as 2 per 1,000 from a survey of 25,000 cases. this must be compared with 0'58 deaths per 1,000 confinements for women aged over 35 years (Buckle and Loung, 1971).…”

“…No deaths were noted in 1,489 cases recorded in the Birmingham region during 1972, and while Buckle and Loung (1971) recorded two deaths in 1,289 cases and Murdoch (1969) estimated the mortality as 2 per 1,000 from a survey of 25,000 cases. this must be compared with 0'58 deaths per 1,000 confinements for women aged over 35 years (Buckle and Loung, 1971). …”

“…During the last six years there has been a considerable growth of the use of surgical sterilization as a part of the procedure of contraception (Buckle and Loung, 1971). The growth stems from several causes but in the last instance has depended on an increased willingness of consultant obstetricians to offer this option to their patients.…”