Contraceptive use-effectiveness in Mojokerot Regency, Indonesia: a comparison of regular program and special drive acceptors.

A follow-up survey of family planning acceptors between April 1971 a nd March 1973 in Mojokerto the last 4 months of which period marked the initiation of highly productive special acceptor drives in 2/3 of Indonesia indicates that: 1) IUD acceptors in the regular program and the special drives are highly persistent and successful contraceptors 2) pill acceptors are less successful than are IUD acceptors and 3) special drive pill acceptors are significantly less successful than regular program acceptors of the pill. The figures for all-method continuation rates 1 year after acceptance are approximately 90% for IUD acceptors in both regular and special drive programs 66% for regular program pill acceptors and 53% for special drive pill acceptors. Pregnancy rates were conversely 6% for regular IUD and 8% for special drive IUD acceptors 16% for regular pill and 25% for special drive pill acceptors. Controlling for demographic factors (number of living children and age at acceptance) and for secular trends did not alter the findings. The differences between regular program and special drive acceptors while not great suggest that special drives recruit acceptors who are more difficult to motivate and might not accept in the regular program. A relatively low percentage of special drive acceptors was lost to follow-up which suggests reported acceptances were in fact real. Sampling was done on a systematic random basis and the Tietze short-form questionnaire was used for data collection. Validity checks were made with indications that response error was low. The performance statistics of IUD acceptors in both types of program compare favorably with median international experience while regular program pill acceptor performance approximates median international experience and special program pill acceptance is below the median though well within the range of international experience.(AUTHORS MODIFIED)