Why women refuse Postpartum IUCD?

Women are highly motivated and receptive to accepting family planning methods during the antenatal period. Hence, we conducted this study to evaluate the refusal rate and reasons for the refusal of postpartum Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices (PPIUCD).

The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, at a tertiary Care Centre, on 400 antenatal women from November 2023 for 2 months.

In present study, 331 (82.8%) subjects were knowing condom as contraceptive, followed by 310 (77.5%) subjects knowing about copper T. 282 (70.5%) subjects were knowing tubectomy, 264 (68.5%) were knowing oral contraceptives, 264 (66%) were knowing vasectomy, 205 (51.2%) were knowing natural methods, 179 (44.8%) were knowing injectable contraceptive, 83 (20.8%) were knowing Saheli, and 27 (6.8%) subjects were not knowing any contraceptive method. In total, 185 (46.5%) subjects knew that Copper T could be inserted immediately after delivery followed by 83 (20.9%) who knew that copper T could be inserted after menses. Sixty-nine (17.3%) knew that copper T could be inserted during a cesarean section. A total of 352 (88%) subjects refused postpartum copper T as a method of contraception. Only 48 (12%) subjects were willing to insert postpartum copper T. After counseling, the rate of acceptance of copper T insertion increased from 48 (12%) to 102 (25.5%).

Knowledge of PPIUCD in the present study was good, but the refusal rate was high. The commonest reason was fear of side effects.