Perceptions of oral contraceptives: pretest results of a new package label.

The Center for Communication Programs of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health conducted pretesting of a proposed label for oral contraceptive (OC) packs in Ghana and the Philippines in 1997. Separate focus group discussions involving married women of reproductive age were organized for current OC users and non-users and in-depth interviews were conducted with health care providers and pharmacists. The proposed label addressed six points related to daily dosage forgotten pills side effects sexually transmitted diseases complications requiring medical attention and OC contraindications. Whereas women and providers in the Philippines thought the label would benefit women attract new users and help with counseling those in Ghana regarded the label as "scary" and likely to deter women from using OCs. A number of respondents in both countries thought information on when to start OCs in relation to menses and instructions to take OCs at the same time each day and to seek medical advice before initiating pill use should be added to the label. In general participants and providers preferred to include instructions on the label leaving medical information for discussion during family planning counseling. On the basis of information gathered in this study two revised sample labels were drafted: one focused on instructions for OC use and the other on warnings and contraindications. Since both labels are overly complicated and lengthy they will be used to guide further discussion on the content and purpose of the OC pack label.