One-year acceptability study of three contraceptive methods: a Kenyan experience.

A prospective clinical study was conducted to assess contraceptive method acceptability user satisfaction and continuation rates for the CUT 380A IUD Depo-Provera and the low-dose combined oral contraceptive Microgynon among Kenyan women. Between June 1990 and June 1992 a total of 1076 acceptors from 4 centers comprise the study population. Acceptors were followed up for a period of 1 year or up to the time of discontinuation of the method whichever came earlier. Examination of the individual method groups reveals that method specific differences in acceptors characteristics do exist. In this study Depo-Provera acceptors tend to be older of higher parity and do not want children. Younger women never married women women of lower parity and those who want more children were more likely to be acceptors of oral contraceptives. The effect of education suggests that women with less education are more inclined toward Depo-Provera and those with more education toward IUD or oral contraceptives. Furthermore the discontinuation rate was highest among oral contraceptive acceptors and lowest for IUD acceptors for every three-month interval at each clinic. Side effects were the most common cause of discontinuation. At the end of the study a client satisfaction questionnaire was administered to 775 acceptors. Results of the survey reveal that 90% of oral contraceptive and Depo-Provera acceptors and 86% for IUD were satisfied with the method.