Perception And Use Of Intrauterine Contraceptive Devices (IUCD) Among Married Women Of Reproductive Age In Bhaktapur, Nepal

PURPOSE: The copper-T (TCu-380A), an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD), is widely available and is highly effective in terms of safety and effectiveness. Despite this fact, there is low utilization of IUCD in Nepal. This paper describes the perception and use of IUCD among married women of reproductive age attending an institutional clinic in Bhaktapur, Nepal. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 273 married women attending the institutional clinic of Bhaktapur hospital who were interviewed by trained staff nurses using semi-structured questionnaires. Systematic random sampling method was applied to select the participants. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between factors associated with utilization of IUCD. RESULTS: Just below half (48.7%) of the participants had heard about IUCD. Only 7.0% of the potential users were currently using IUCD, and all of them had discussed using it with their husbands. Among women aware of IUCD, nearly a quarter of them (23.8%) did not want to use it because of their husband’s disapproval and their assumed fear of decreased sexual pleasure. There was a significant association between previous abortion and use of IUCD, where the women who had a history of abortion had increased odds of using the IUCD by 5.45-times compared to those who had not (p=0.01). The women who were counseled about IUCD by health workers were 2.83-times more likely to use an IUCD than those who were not. The women who had a good knowledge level about IUCD as a method of modern contraception had 2.85-times increased odds of using the IUCD compared to those who had poor or no knowledge about it. CONCLUSION: The use of IUCD depends on the support of husbands, knowledge about its safety, efficacy, and counseling.