Contraceptive Counselling and Uptake Among Female Kidney Transplant Recipients in Ethiopia

Abstract

Contraceptive counselling and utilization for kidney transplant patients is a vital component of their kidney transplant care. The use of standardized information on contraceptive methods to prevent unplanned post‐transplant pregnancies in Africa in general is less studied. This study aimed to describe contraceptive counselling and uptake among kidney transplant recipients at a kidney transplant centre in Ethiopia.A descriptive study on contraceptive counselling and uptake among female Ethiopian kidney transplant recipients was conducted at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College (Ethiopia) from April 15 to July 15, 2023. Data on women's sociodemographic, renal transplantation and contraceptive counselling and use were collected through interviewing the participants using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed on SPSS 23 using simple descriptive analysis. Percentages and frequencies were used to present the results.A total of 60 participants were included in the final analysis. The mean age of the participants was 33.7 ± 8.4 years. The median duration from the time of renal transplant was 19 months. Most (49/60, 81.7%) of the participants reported that they did not receive family planning counselling on contraceptive methods in the early post‐transplant phase. The rate of contraceptive uptake was 8.3% (5/60) with two patients being copper IUD users, and Implanon, tubal ligation and combined oral contraceptives each utilized by a single kidney transplant patient.Contraceptive counselling and uptake rates among female kidney transplant recipients in this study were very low, which is consistent with findings from previous studies. Increasing female kidney transplant patients’ awareness on safe and effective contraceptive use through adequate contraceptive counselling is essential.