Assessment of contraceptive methods choice among women during childbearing age in Mosul, Iraq.

Objectives: To assess factors influencing choice of contraceptive methods among women in Mosul, Iraq.

Methods: An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted during the period extending from July 2022 to March 2023, and a convenience sample of 100 women at child-bearing age (15-49 years) was collected from those attending the Family Planning Clinic at Al-Khansaa Teaching Hospital in Mosul. A direct interview was used to collect data required by using a special questionnaire form. Data was tabulated and analyzed using Excel 2010 and Statistical Package of the Social Sciences, version 24.0. The frequency and percentage of variables have been calculated. Together with calculating factors influencing choice of contraceptive method by using the Chi-Square test to compare different factors, p-value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Results: The commonest method used was coitus interruptus (43%), follow by pills in 21%. The most important factor influenced the choice of the contraceptive method was the safety of method with fewer side effects (p=0.001).

Conclusion: Although different modern contraceptive methods are available, coitus interruptus (withdrawal) was found to be the most frequent method used awing to its safety. Adapting a national program to increase women's awareness for other method is needed to be applied in all antenatal care unit in Primary Health Center for pregnant women and encouraging them to decided using these methods after delivery.