Client satisfaction with sterilization procedure in Bangladesh
Islam, M.N.; Rahman, M.M.
Asia-Pacific Population Journal 8(1): 39-52
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0259-238X PMID: 12286247 Document Number: 326984
Between June and August 1990, field workers collected data on 1600 sterilization clients living in 16 rural small administrative units (thana) and 4 urban thana in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, and Rajshahi, Bangladesh, to determine whether dissatisfaction among already sterilized couples accounted for the fall in sterilizations. 89.7% of vasectomy clients and 95.2% of tubectomy clients were satisfied. Just 4.4% of men and 2.4% of women expressed regret, about 95% of all clients believed they made the correct decision and more than 91% would have recommended it to others. Sterilization did not affect their sexual ability or the marital relationship. Men who had ever used contraceptives in the past were more likely to be satisfied than those who had never used them (93% vs. 3.9%; p .001). Yet most men who had never used contraceptives in the past were neither satisfied nor regretted their decision (92.2%). On the other hand, both groups of women (ever used and never used contraceptives) were satisfied (94.1% and 96.4%, respectively). The leading reasons for satisfaction for both men and women were that they would have no more children (64.1% and 65.9%, respectively) and that they would not need to worry about pregnancy (27.8% and 30%, respectively). The main reasons for regret for sterilization clients were frequent illness (43.8% for men and 12.5% for women) and deterioration of health (21.3% for men and 50% for women). Proper reception at the clinic effected satisfaction among clients, especially women clients (p .05). Essentially all clients knew they could not have any children after sterilization. Around 85% of men and 94% of women provided informed consent for the operation. No client of the voluntary surgical contraception program claimed coercion. These findings indicated that dissatisfaction was not responsible for the decline in sterilizations. The decline was probably due to the increased emphasis on and acceptance of oral contraceptives and condoms.