[USE OF CONTRACEPTION IN WOMEN FROM THE ZAPRESIĆ AREA AND FACTORS INFLUENCING THE CHOICE OF METHOD: A CROSS-SECTIONAL...

There have long been no surveys in the field of family planning in Croatia. There were some carried out by commercial agencies and some related to adolescents, but none focused on women of reproductive age. Therefore, we embarked upon this survey including women living in the town of Zaprešić and its surroundings. The aims of the study were to investigate how many of them used contraception, which methods prevailed, how they made their choice and whether demographic and health care characteristics had have any influence on it. This cross-sectional survey was conducted at eight family medicine practices from the town of Zaprešić town and six practices from nearby rural settings. We used a purposeful sampling method; women aged 18-45 visiting family medicine practices for different reasons were asked to participate in the study. Those that agreed were given a questionnaire designed for this survey and based on literature results. The questions were closed and related to the women's demographic and some health-related characteristics and those related to the usage of contraception, such as the method used, how they made their choice, if they made any changes and why. The STATA/IC 11.2 (license 30110536846) was used on data processing. Descriptive statistics was used with Pearson χ2-test and logistic regression analysis to determine associations between categorical variables and dependent variable, in this case contraception use or non-use. The value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Out of 283 women having filled in the questionnaire, 44.5% used some contraceptive methods. The most frequently used was condom (24.7%), then pill (24.1%) and combination of several methods (20.0%). The women living in the town used more coitus interruptus, and those living in rural areas used more pills. The most frequently stated reasons for the use of certain methods were as follows: the methods is simple for use (32.9%), it is safe (24.6%), and it is efficient and safe (22.8%). The women with elementary school preferred more efficient and those with high education safer methods. The efficiency of the method was also the main reason for university students. The majority of women made their decision in consultation with gynecologist (48.8%), then in agreement with partner (29.4%) and by her own choice (18.2%). Married and unmarried women made their decision in consultation with gynecologist and partner, unmarried women more with partner than married ones. Only 0.6% of women did consult their family doctors. They did not consider him/her as a professional to consult. In 45.5% of cases, women changed contraceptive methods, more women with high education. Mostly, they wished to use more efficient or safer method. The results of logistic regression analyses indicated that the predictors for contraceptive use were high education, working status, number of abortions and frequency of visits to gynecologist. In conclusion, only 44.5% of surveyed women used contraception, mainly condoms, pills and combination of methods. The efficacy and safety were important reasons, while gynecologists and partners were an important source of help on making decision. The place of living, age, education, married status and working status were associated with some aspects of contraceptive usage.