Experience with Combined Injectable Contraceptive (Norigynon) in Port Harcourt

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the use, acceptability, effectiveness and side effects of combination injectable contraceptive (CIC) in Port Harcourt, Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Study Design: Descriptive retrospective analysis. Place and Duration of Study: Family planning clinic, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt Nigeria, between 1st January 2010  and 31st December, 2013. Methodology: The case notes of all new clients who accepted combined injectable contraceptive (Norigynon) were retrieved from the records section of the clinic and studied. Data, including socio-demographic characteristics, adverse effects and reasons for contraception were extracted and analysed using SPSS for windows 19.0 version and results expressed in percentages and presented in tables. Results: Of the 1260 new acceptors of modern contraceptive methods in UPTH, 21 clients chose the combined injectable contraceptive (Norigynon) giving an acceptance rate of 1.67%. All (100%) of the acceptors used it for child spacing. Five (23.81%) reported side effects which were oligomenorrhea, (1, 14.76%), intermenstrual bleeding, (2,9.52%) and secondary amenorrhea, (2, 9.52%). Twelve (54.14%) were lost to follow up. There was no pregnancy reported among the users, giving a Pearl index of zero. Conclusion: Combined injectable contraceptive is a very effective and safe method of contraception but with surprisingly very low uptake and continuation rates in Port Harcourt, Southern Nigeria.