[Causes of non-use of postpartum contraceptive method among adolescent mothers]

To determine the causes of non postpartum contraceptive use among adolescent mothers.

We conducted a cross-section descriptive study. We included women who asked for attention of an obstetric event in 2002, we identified those were in immediate postpartum period, and we selected those that did not began a birth-control method. Data were collected directly with an interview and revision of the file, later on they were coded and processed manually; the causes of non contraceptive use were classified in: attributable causes to patient: personal, religious, moral, familiar, cultural, etc. Reasons, when they received information and advice or when they did not assist to educational actions; attributable causes to hospital: technique administrative factors, insufficient educational communication activities by service provider; and attributable causes to medical indication: presence of risk factors for health women. The statistical analysis was carried out using frequencies and percentages.

We found 261 women, we identified 160 (61%) in immediate postpartum period, 52 (32%) they did not began contraceptive use.

The causes of non postpartum contraceptive use among adolescent mothers were attributable to themselves in 75%, in 21% to the medical unit, and 4% to medical indication.