Innocent Igwebueze Okafor
Background: Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARC) methods provide very effective contraception for extended periods that do not depend on clients’ daily compliances or adherences. They are the ideal methods for the prevention of the harmful consequences of unintended pregnancies in most women including adolescents. Objectives: To determine the uptake rate of LARC in ESUTH Enugu, assess the characteristics of the acceptors, identify barriers, and make recommendations. Method: The new client register in ESUTH, Enugu was reviewed retrospectively from December 31, 2015 back to January 1, 2011. Data on clients’ characteristics, and uptakes of LARC and Non-LARC were extracted from the register, entered in Excel 2007 software, analyzed, and presented using percentages and graphs. Results: A total of 1737 clients accepted the available family planning methods during the five-year study period. One thousand five hundred and sixty seven (90.21%) accepted LARC while 170(9.79%) only accepted non-LARC. The LARC uptake rate was 90.21%. Majority of the clients were 30-39 years of age 1121(64.54%), 690 (39.72%) had secondary education, 821(47.27%) had tertiary education, and Christians were 1510 (86.93%). The acceptors increased as parity increased with a peak at Para 4 of 490(28.21%). Clients less than 20 years (0.06%), not educated (1.27%), and Para 0 (0.4%) rarely access the family planning clinic. The LARC acceptors opted for jadelle 526(30.28%) and implanon 465(26.77%) sub-dermal implants, depo-provera 276(15.89%), interval intrauterine contraceptive device 232(13.36%), noristerat 48(2.76%), and postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device 20(1.15%). Conclusion: There is a very high uptake of LARC in Enugu. Jadelle and implanon constitute over 50% of the LARC uptakes. Adolescents (< 20 years), less educated and low parity clients rarely access the family planning clinic.
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