A field trial of Billings' ovulation method for spacing and limitation of birth
Sinha, G.; Sinha, A.
Journal of the Indian Medical Association 91(10): 255-256
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5847 PMID: 8308307 Document Number: 332552
In Patna, India, social workers underwent training to learn about reproductive biology and various aspects of the Billings' Ovulation Method (BOM) to teach couples about BOM. They made a survey of eligible couples in urban and slum areas and encouraged them to attend group discussions in the local schools. Then the social workers made home visits for training. They used diagrams, charts, and cassettes to explain to willing couples about dry and wet days in the menstrual cycle. Social workers made weekly visits for 3 months to verify the women's ability to correctly identify changes in cervical mucus. They followed 267 women in urban areas and 234 women in the slums for 2.5 years. 40% were married before they were 17 years old. 10.7% of all women were newly married, nulliparous, and wanted to delay pregnancy. 85.4% of the women living in the slums did not use any contraception before accepting BOM, compared to 30% of those living in the urban areas. 37% of urban women had used condoms. At the end of 2.5 years, 450 (89.8%) women still used BOM. Of the 51 who discontinued BOM, 62.7% lived in the slums, compared to just 37.3% for those from urban areas. The mean duration of continuation was 13 months among those who discontinued, 32 (6.3%) of the 501 women became pregnant. 9 (1.8%) women, all of whom were multiparous and wanted no more children, had accepted sterilization. 10 (1.9%) stopped relying on BOM because they could not manage it. These findings show that women who shun contraception, often due to fear of side effects, do accept simple, safe, and effective BOM. Workers who are already promoting maternal and child health services can be trained to train women about BOM. Workers who are already promoting maternal and child health services can be trained to train women about BOM without spending more money to hire BOM trainers.