Who are the Zimbabwean loop users? The social and demographic characteristics of Zimbabwean IUCD users

As part of a study into the reasons for the low utilization of the intra-uterine contraceptive device (IUCD) among Zimbabwean women, a records' review of IUCD users over the period 1985 to 1989 was carried out. A 10 pc sample of the records of women inserted over this period was taken. This paper reports on the social demographic and selected screening characteristics of these women. A total of 1,179 records were reviewed. The IUCD users had a higher socio-economic status than the Zimbabwean population as a whole. Nearly 20 pc of the IUCD users were professional, technical and related workers, (mostly nurses and teachers), compared to 4.3 pc among the general population. Clients had apparently better reproductive histories than the population as a whole, probably reflecting their socio-economic status and possibly the screening process. The women were in their mid to late twenties in age at the time of insertion, and had been married an average of nine years. A quarter of the clients did not want any more children. They were using the IUCD to suspend their conception indefinitely after completion of their families. About 74 pc of the women had learnt about the family planning clinic from the local clinic/nurses or the community based distributor, indicating the importance of these sources of information. Eighty pc of the women were previous acceptors of modern contraceptives, but only 6 pc had apparently used the IUCD before.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)