The Effect of an Educational Booklet on Women's Knowledge and Intentions to Use Contraception

Background Contraception has emerged as a highly debated issue globally in recent years. Effectively spacing and limiting pregnancies positively influences women's health and well-being, as well as the outcomes of each pregnancy. Conversely, unintended pregnancies resulting from the lack of contraceptive use can jeopardize women's health and place a significant burden on society. Aim This study aimed to assess the effect of an educational booklet on the knowledge and intention of primiparae women to use modern contraception. Methods The study utilized a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test assessments conducted in Saudi Arabia. A purposive sampling technique was employed to select participants, resulting in a sample size of 60 primiparae women. A self-administered questionnaire was used to evaluate the participants' knowledge and intention to use contraception both before and after the educational session. Results The results demonstrated a significant improvement in participants' knowledge when comparing assessments before and after the educational session. Initially, 88.3% of participants exhibited poor knowledge, while only 11.7% had an average level of understanding. Immediately following the educational session, 91.7% of participants attained a good level of knowledge, and after one month, 76.7% maintained good knowledge, with 15% reporting an average level. After one month, the most commonly used contraceptive method was oral contraceptive pills (25%), followed by intrauterine devices (21.7%) and contraceptive implants (21.7%). Notably, 70% of participants had not previously used any contraceptive method. Conclusions The educational session utilizing an educational booklet significantly enhanced participants' knowledge and intention to use contraceptives. Consequently, it is crucial for health authorities to address the need for expanding family planning services. Future studies may benefit from employing a mixed-methods research design, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative approaches, to explore barriers to contraceptive use and the challenges of implementing contraceptive education programs in healthcare facilities across Saudi Arabia.