[The postnatal contraception: upon 600 patients of whom 129 were postnatal controlled]

To draw a parallel between the contraceptive methods prescribed in the post-natal ward and the contraceptive methods taken by patients during their postnatal visit.

This piece of work draws information from a prospective 10 weeks study at a University Teaching Hospital post-natal ward on the contraception that is prescribed upon leaving the maternity ward and also at the time of the post-natal visit.

From the 600 cases studied, the analysis is about 129 patients reviewed in the post-natal visit. The percentage of loss was 78.5%. A hormonal contraceptive pill was prescribed to 73.5% of women (441 patients) after birth in which 63.5% had microprogestative pills. At the earliest, the IUD was given at about 5.4 weeks postpartum. At the time of the postnatal visit, compliance was bad for one third of women with either estrogen plus progestin methods, microprogestative or natural methods. Women who chose a barrier method were only 45.5% to follow this choice, the others left without contraception.

The prescription of postpartum contraception was followed by only 66.6% of women. In order to prescribe a more effective contraceptive method, we must improve the prescriber's timing in sharing contraceptive information and completeness of the contraceptive methods offered.