Comparison of knowledge, attitude and other related factors to sterilization between sterilization method users and contraceptive methods users in Hamedan City in 2003
Ozgoli, G.; Ahmadi, M.; Goli, S.H.; Baghban, A.R.A.
Medical Journal of Reproduction and Infertility 5(3): 259-268
2004
Document Number: 242477
130 couples, including 65 who chose sterilization and 65 who chose other contraceptive methods, with at least 3 live children in Hamedan City, Iran, were studied in 2003. All couples had either referred to hospitals for sterilization or to health care centres to get contraceptives. Data on age, education, race, address, career, number of children, duration of marriage, age of last child, discrepancy between number of children and the desired number of children, reasons for choosing the contraceptive method, related knowledge and attitude were recorded in a questionnaire. The statistical methods used were chi-square, analysis of variance, correlation coefficient, t-test, Fisher and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Among the couples who selected sterilization, 52.3% had a poor knowledge and 78.5% had a positive attitude. 30% of them were aware of the rate of reversibility of fertility and 17.5% were aware of the duration of contraceptive use after vasectomy. Among the couples who were using other contraceptive methods, 50.8% had a weak knowledge and 49.3% had neutral attitude. 20% of them were aware of the rate of reversibility of fertility following sterilization and 13.8% were aware of the duration of using a contraceptive method after vasectomy. There was no significant difference in knowledge, but there was a significant difference in attitudes (P<0.01) between the 2 groups. The source of information in 27.7% of women who chose sterilization was the health care centre and that of 16.9% of such men were relatives and friends. It is concluded that couples with poor knowledge and positive attitude tend to choose sterilization, and those who have a neutral attitude do not select it. Education and counselling are highly recommended to couples who are selecting or not selecting sterilization as a contraceptive method.