BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Contraceptives are widely acknowledged for preventing unwanted pregnancies. However, there is a prevalent lack of awareness regarding contraceptives, leading to unaddressed misconceptions. This study aimed to identify common contraceptive misconceptions among men and women of reproductive age and explore how primary health workers address them.

A qualitative study was conducted in two phases within District 5, Manila City. Phase 1 comprised focused group discussions with men and women of reproductive age (n=60), while Phase 2 involved conducting in-depth interviews with primary healthcare providers (n=16). MAXQDA, a qualitative software, to organize and code the data, was utilized.

Women of reproductive age reported several misconceptions about contraceptives, including concerns about adverse health effects, emotional and behavioral changes, perceived ineffectiveness, and cosmetic or bodily changes. For instance, they believed that contraceptives could lead to serious health complications, such as cancer, genital injury, and even death. Primary healthcare providers addressed these misconceptions through open dialogue during service delivery, particularly during prenatal and postpartum check-ups and infant immunizations. They utilized patient education strategies, including the teach-back method, and conducted community outreach and workshops on contraceptives and family planning, especially during Women’s Month.

Several misconceptions were identified among women of reproductive age regarding the proper use and safety of contraceptive methods, as well as misguided beliefs. In contrast, men did not exhibit any misconceptions about contraceptives, which warrants further investigation. Primary healthcare providers have taken a proactive approach to address this issue by offering comprehensive explanations and ensuring clear understanding between healthcare providers and women. Promoting contraceptive health literacy could help bridge the knowledge gap between men and women of reproductive age.

Contraceptive Agents ; Health Personnel ; Primary Health Care ; Philippines

Background and Objective: Contraceptives are widely acknowledged for preventing unwanted pregnancies. However, there is a prevalent lack of awareness regarding contraceptives, leading to unaddressed misconceptions. This study aimed to identify common contraceptive misconceptions among men and women of reproductive age and explore how primary health workers address them. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in two phases within District 5, Manila City. Phase 1 comprised focused group discussions with men and women of reproductive age (n=60), while Phase 2 involved conducting in-depth interviews with primary healthcare providers (n=16). MAXQDA, a qualitative software, to organize and code the data, was utilized. Results: Women of reproductive age reported several misconceptions about contraceptives, including concerns about adverse health effects, emotional and behavioral changes, perceived ineffectiveness, and cosmetic or bodily changes. For instance, they believed that contraceptives could lead to serious health complications, such as cancer, genital injury, and even death. Primary healthcare providers addressed these misconceptions through open dialogue during service delivery, particularly during prenatal and postpartum check-ups and infant immunizations. They utilized patient education strategies, including the teach-back method, and conducted community outreach and workshops on contraceptives and family planning, especially during Women’s Month. Conclusion Several misconceptions were identified among women of reproductive age regarding the proper use and safety of contraceptive methods, as well as misguided beliefs. In contrast, men did not exhibit any misconceptions about contraceptives, which warrants further investigation. Primary healthcare providers have taken a proactive approach to address this issue by offering comprehensive explanations and ensuring clear understanding between healthcare providers and women. Promoting contraceptive health literacy could help bridge the knowledge gap between men and women of reproductive age.
contraceptives ; contraceptive agents ; health literacy ; Philippines

Objective: To evaluate different methods' efficacy of controlling acute bleeding and managing long-term menstruation in patients with heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) associated with antithrombotic therapy. Methods: The clinical data of 22 cases with HMB associated with antithrombotic therapy admitted to Peking University People's Hospital from January 2010 to August 2022 were analyzed, aged 39 years old (26-46 years). Changes in menstrual volume, hemoglobin (Hb), and quality of life were collected after control of acute bleeding and long-term menstrual management. Menstrual volume was assessed by pictorial blood assessment chart (PBAC), and quality of life was assessed by menorrhagia multi-attribute scale (MMAS). Results: (1) Treatment of acute bleeding: of the 22 cases with HMB associated with antithrombotic therapy, 16 cases were treated in our hospital and 6 in other hospital for emergency bleeding; of the 16 cases treated in our hospital, 3 underwent emergency intrauterine Foley catheter balloon compression due to severe bleeding (Hb decreased by 20 to 40 g/L within 12 hours). Of the 22 cases with antithrombotic therapy-related HMB, 15 (including 2 cases with severe bleeding) underwent emergency aspiration or endometrial resection, and intraoperative placement of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) followed by a significant reduction in bleeding volume; 3 cases had controlled acute bleeding after rivaroxaban dose reduction and continued observation; 2 cases were given gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists to control acute bleeding in other hospital, of which 1 case was temporarily treated with periodic blood transfusion, and the other one patient underwent total hysterectomy; and 2 cases had temporary amenorrhea with oral mifepristone after intrauterine balloon compression or oral norethindrone. (2) Long-term menstrual management: of the 22 cases with antithrombotic therapy-related HMB, 15 had LNG-IUS placement and 12 had LNG-IUS placement for 6 months, and menstrual volume was significantly reduced [PBAC scores were 365.0 (272.5-460.0) vs 25.0 (12.5-37.5), respectively; Z=4.593, P<0.001], Hb was significantly increased [91.5 g/L (71.8-108.2 g/L) vs 128.5 g/L (121.2-142.5 g/L); Z=4.695, P<0.001], and quality of life was significantly improved [MMAS scores were 415.0 (327.5-472.5) vs 580.0 (570.0-580.0), respectively; Z=-3.062, P=0.002] before placement compared with 6 months after placement. Three rivaroxaban dose reduction patients' PBAC scores decreased by 20 to 35 but remained >100, and perceived quality of life did not change significantly. Two cases with temporary amenorrhea treated with oral mifepristone felt significantly improved quality of life, and the MMAS scores increased by 220 and 180, respectively. Conclusion: Intrauterine Foley catheter balloon compression, aspiration or endometrial ablation could be used to control acute bleeding in patients with antithrombotic therapy-related HMB, and LNG-IUS for long-term management could reduce menstrual volume, increase hemoglobin, and improve the quality of life of patients.
Female ; Humans ; Adult ; Menorrhagia/etiology* ; Fibrinolytic Agents/adverse effects* ; Levonorgestrel/adverse effects* ; Amenorrhea/drug therapy* ; Mifepristone/therapeutic use* ; Quality of Life ; Rivaroxaban/therapeutic use* ; Hemoglobins ; Intrauterine Devices, Medicated/adverse effects* ; Contraceptive Agents, Female

This paper introduces the basic content of the compulsory national standard ISO 7439:2015 Copper-bearing contraceptive intrauterine devices--Requirements and tests standard analysis, and expounds the reasons for revising part of the standard during the conversion process according to the actual market situation of intrauterine contraceptive device containing copper in China. As a compulsory basic universal standard, it has a guiding significance for the manufacturers of IUD and can promote the improvement of product quality.
China ; Contraceptive Agents ; Copper ; Female ; Humans ; Intrauterine Devices

Introduction: For the past decades, issues on Population Control have been raised. The Philippine government has been addressing these issues for quite some time. However, on the other end of the spectrum on population control, the end users have seldom been asked, understood and talked about. Objective: The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Catharsis-Education-Action (CEA) Method with Family Planning Education in improving the uptake of artificial contraceptive use compared to Family Planning Education alone among women of reproductive age. Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted in a primary health center in Batangas City among 176 women of reproductive age with unmet need in family planning. Participants were randomized into either CEA counseling with Family Planning Education (intervention group) and Family Planning Education alone (control group). CEA was conducted individually with the study participants in the intervention group, following a Family Planning Education lecture provided by a midwife trained to disseminate information on family planning methods. The control group received Family Planning Education lecture alone. Outcomes were determined one month after using a Follow-up Questionnaire. Categorical variables were expressed in frequency and percentage. Chi square was used to compare the utilization rate of artificial contraceptive use between the two groups. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar except for the participants’ age (p-value 0.025). There was statistically significant difference in the uptake of artificial family planning method between the CEA group and control group (43% vs 27%; p-value 0.014 Conclusion Catharsis-Education-Action (CEA) Method as adjunct to Family Planning Education is effective in improving the uptake of artificial contraceptive use among women of reproductive age. Utilizing CEA will strengthen existing primary healthcare services and establish a reproductive health plan that will enhance the overall health and well-being of women, their families and the community.
Family Planning Services ; Contraceptive Agents ; Sex Education

Background: In the Philippines, the extent to which hormonal contraceptives (HC) are used for reasons other than birth control is unknown. This study aims to examine how Filipino women use HC for contraceptive and non-contraceptive indications. Methods: This is Project 1 of a descriptive cross-sectional study involving a hospital-based (Project 1) and community-based (Project 2) survey. The questionnaire is adapted from the Georgia Reproductive Health Survey (RHS) 2005 and The Fog Zone 2009 from Guttmacher Institute. A face-to-face questionnaire collected demographic information and issues related to knowledge, attitude and experience in HC use among 15-45-year old Filipino women (n=244) seen at the Gynecologic Outpatient Department of the Philippine General Hospital. Results: Filipino women showed positive attitudes towards efficacy and safety of HC, which positively correlated with patterns of use. Majority possessed little knowledge regarding OCPs (82%), injectables (56%), and IUDs (39%). The major reasons for HC use were contraception (46%) and menstrual regulation (26%). Pills (77%) were most commonly utilized. A doctor’s recommendation (67%) primarily influenced choice of HC. Four out of 10 reported some difficulty in HC use. Conclusion: Although with limited knowledge, Filipino women have positive attitude towards, and have utilized HC both for gynecologic and contraceptive purposes.
Contraceptive Agents ; Knowledge

Dysmenorrhea is the most common gynecologic condition in women during the reproductive period. Severe dysmenorrhea pain affects their social activities, sleep, and quality of life. Nevertheless, the proportion of women with dysmenorrhea do not receive adequate medical counseling or pharmacological treatments. Primary dysmenorrhea is diagnosed clinically, and the secondary causes that can cause pelvic pain should be identified. The treatment of choice for primary dysmenorrhea is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In order to maximize the therapeutic effect, it is necessary to ensure that the appropriate medication is administered in a proper way. NSAIDs can cause adverse effects, including gastrointestinal disorders. If side effects occur or are anticipated with NSAIDs, the use of hormonal contraceptives may be recommended when contraception is considered. In addition to these pharmacological treatments, heat, dietary, and behavioral therapies have been tried and reported to have some effects. However, further research is required for robust conclusions.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Contraception ; Contraceptive Agents ; Counseling ; Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Menstruation ; Pelvic Pain ; Quality of Life ; Reproduction

OBJECTIVES: The perceptions of family-planning (FP) acceptors regarding contraception influence the reasons for which they choose to switch their method of contraception. The objective of this study was to analyze the perceptions of contraception and rationales for switching contraceptive methods among female FP acceptors in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. METHODS: This study involved the analysis of secondary data from the Improve Contraceptive Method Mix study, which was conducted in 2013 by the Center for Health Research, University of Indonesia. The design of the study was cross-sectional. We performed 3 stages of sampling using the cluster technique and selected 4819 women who were FP acceptors in West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia as the subjects of this study. The data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The predominant pattern of switching contraceptive methods was switching from one non-long-term method of contraception to another. Only 31.0% of the acceptors reported a rational pattern of switching contraceptive methods given their age, number of children, and FP motivations. Perceptions of the side effects of contraceptive methods, the ease of contraceptive use, and the cost of the contraceptives were significantly associated (at the level of α=0.05) with rational patterns of switching contraceptive methods. CONCLUSIONS: Perceptions among FP-accepting women were found to play an important role in their patterns of switching contraceptive methods. Hence, fostering a better understanding of contraception through high-quality counseling is needed to improve perceptions and thereby to encourage rational, effective, and efficient contraceptive use.
Child ; Contraception ; Contraceptive Agents ; Counseling ; Family Planning Services ; Female ; Foster Home Care ; Humans ; Indonesia ; Logistic Models ; Methods ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care

BACKGROUND: The sociodemographic shift in sexual initiation, low contraceptive and family planning use pose threat in the reproductive health and well-being of young people. Despite the rise in sexual activity among
young people before reaching the age of 18, prevalence of contraceptive use remains low while unmet need for family planning among married and sexually active women is consistently highest among women 15-19 years old compared to any other age group.

OBJECTIVE: The observed trend in the reproductive health practices of young people, as well as the paucity of literature on adolescent reproductive health, warrant the need for studies that focus on family planning and sexual behavior of young people. This study aims to determine the factors associated with unmet need for family planning among sexually active women aged 15-19 years in the Philippines.

METHODS: This study used the data from the National Demographic Health Survey 2017. The analysis included only the fecund and sexually active women aged 15-19 years old. Logistic regression was performed in order to determine the significant predictors of unmet need for family planning among young women.

RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent of women reported secondary education as the highest level of education attended. Knowledge on modern family planning method is high at 99% while the proportion of women with
knowledge of ovulatory cycle, and knowledge on possibility of getting pregnant after giving birth and before the return of menstrual cycle are 21% and 61%, respectively. The proportion of women who responded that
their husbands/partners desire the same number of children is 68%. Multiple logistic regression and stepwise selection procedure showed that husband's fertility preference is a significant predictor of having unmet need.

CONCLUSION: Addressing the issue on low family planning and contraceptive use among young women in the Philippines requires concerted efforts that aim to cater to the needs of both men and women in this age group.
The consistently low family planning practice among young people despite the overall improvement in the proportion of family planning users among women indicates the need for variability in strategies that target
young and older age groups. Further research should be conducted in order to gain better understanding of the determinants of unmet need for family planning among young people.