International Family Planning Perspectives
Volume 27, Number 1 March 2001

 

Contraceptive Use, Intention to Use and Unmet Need During the Extended Postpartum Period
TABLES

Table 1. Percentage of provider sessions with simulated clients in which expected provider behaviors occurred, and correlation between occurrence of item and length of counseling session
Behavior % Correlation
(N=114)
General questions asked or action taken by provider
How old is client 96 -.11
How many children does she have 96 -.04
Does client want more children 7 .19*
What methods has client used/is she currently using 82 -.01
How was client using the rhythm method 12 .11
What was date of last menstruation/whether pregnancy is suspected 97 .02
Performed or wanted to perform pelvic exam 3 .07
Method options offered or action requested by provider
Rhythm 24 .16
Condoms 82 .27*
Vaginal tablets 79 .28*
Pill 95 .23*
DMPA 88 .19*
IUD 84 .20*
Tubal ligation 26 .14
Client asked to choose a method 96 .17
DMPA contraindications or related question asked by provider
Vaginal bleeding 3 -.03
Date of last Pap smear 25 .13
Family history of breast cancer 5 .01
Whether client knows how to do a breast exam 7 .14
Whether client has hard formations in the breast 4 -.07
Whether client has liver problems or yellow skin 32 -.06
DMPA mechanism of action told by provider
Injection would stop ovulation 36 .05
Cervical mucus would thicken 10 .14
DMPA use instructions given by provider
First injection administered in first five days of menses 70 .16
Injection administered in the buttocks 46 .28*
Following doses given every 3 months 93 .15
Allowable window surrounding quarterly injection date is two weeks 4 -.12
DMPA side effects/warning signs told to client
Menstruation might stop altogether 84 .05
Menstruation may be irregular or spotting may occur 77 .06
Neither amenorrhea nor spotting is sign of illness 44 .06
Weight gain is possible 37 .07
Temporary infertility of 6-12 mos. might follow stopping method 15 .18
Abundant vaginal bleeding requires return visit 12 .01
Instructions on barrier methods given by provider
Condoms/vaginal tablets should be used while waiting for injection 18 .04
Coitus must be initiated with condom on 47 .10
Condom must be removed with penis still erect 20 .14
Each coitus requires new condom 38 .21*
Vaginal tablet must be inserted 15 minutes before coitus 54 .13
Client must be prone for insertion of tablet 29 .15
Tablet is effective for one hour 18 .20*
Each act of coitus requires new tablet 25 .05
Client must avoid douching during the hours following coitus 24 .19*
Follow-up question asked or actions taken by provider
Asked whether client had understood 23 .14
Verified client's response by asking specific questions 3 -.02
Told client to return if she had any doubts 12 .02
Client given information leaflet 27 .31*
*p<.05, two-tailed test.

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Table 2. Mean percentage of items on which information was exchanged for each content area, correlation between summed item scores per area and session length in minutes, and internal consistency for each area
Content area % Correlation Consistency
General questions/offer of exam (7 items) 56 .09 .12
Offer of method options (8 items) 72 .33* .76
DMPA use instructions (4 items) 53 .27* .26
DMPA mechanisms of action (2 items) 23 .10 .44
DMPA contraindications (6 items) 13 .04 .41
DMPA side effects/warning signs (6 items) 45 .13 .55
Barrier method instructions (9 items) 30 .19* .87
Follow-up assessment (4 items) 16 .26* .23
*p<.05 (two-tailed test). Notes: Correlation is measured using Pearson correlations. Consistency is measured using Cronbach's alpha.

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Figure 1. Mean number of items on which providers exchanged information with simulated clients, by length of session
fig.1
Length of session (in minutes)

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© copyright 2001, The Alan Guttmacher Institute.