Contraceptive trends in a tertiary facility in north western Nigeria: A 10 year review

Abstract

Background: Of all the direct influences on fertility, contraceptive use is the single most important factor for reproductive health policy makers and program managers. Increase in its use, accounted for the largest proportion of fertility decline worldwide including the sub-Saharan region

Objective: To determine the trends of contraceptive use and the preferred method of contraception among the clients visiting the family planning clinic of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.

Study design: This is a retrospective descriptive study, involving all acceptors of contraceptive methods from January 1999 and December 2009 in the family planning unit of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital Kano, North western Nigeria.

Results The injectable contraceptives were used the most by the clients (6878) while the least number of the clients (208) used the implants. Female sterilization, however, contributed about 3%, to the contraceptive method, while male condom and implants each had the smallest contribution of about 2.5% and 1.9% respectively. No man had vasectomy over the 10-year period.
 Conclusion: There is an increase in the trend of contraceptive use over the study period. Injectable contraceptives are the most commonly used method in this study.