Are myths surrounding long-acting reversible contraception the reason for a huge unmet need for spacing pregnancies?

BACKGROUND: Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC), a highly effective class of contraceptives, has a limited uptake by few couples due to lack of awareness, unavailability, and myths surrounding their application and side effects. AIMS: This study was undertaken to understand and to clear myths of LARC among patients as well as to assess the knowledge, attitudes, practices, and preference. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study using a semistructured questionnaire was conducted in the out-patient Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, in a tertiary level hospital in Eastern India. A total of 600 women responded to the structured validated questionnaire. RESULTS: High prevalence of teenage marriages (64%), teenage pregnancies (44%), and unwanted pregnancy (41%) was noted among responders. The knowledge scores were low in 66.7%, moderate in 26.66%, and only 6.66% had high level >80% scores in the 15 questions about LARC methods. While 41% had a positive attitude to future use of LARC, a majority (59%) had a strong negative attitude due to many myths of genital tract infections, discharges, and cancer, changed menstrual bleeding patterns, delayed conception after discontinuation, and altered sexual functions. Out of those with a positive attitude, 21% of women had a preference for intrauterine devices, 19.5% of women for injectables, and only 0.5% of women preferred contraceptive implants. 24.5% of women had used LARC in their lifetime but a meager 5% were currently using them. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that there is a huge unmet need for spacing contraceptive methods as childbearing spacing is not maintained. There were lack of correct knowledge and awareness, and numerous myths surrounding LARC methods.