A comparative study of sterilisation acceptors
Soni, R.K.; Sachar, R.K.; Gill, P.J.
Indian Journal of Maternal and Child Health Official Publication of Indian Maternal and Child Health Association 3(3): 82-84
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0970-8928 PMID: 12288816 Document Number: 334923
This study was conducted retrospectively at the Family Welfare and Post Partum Center, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana. The data on sterilization acceptors for 1986-87 to 1989-90 were utilized. The acceptors were divided into: 1) direct acceptors (women who accept a family planning method before leaving the hospital or within 3 months of delivery or abortion); 2) indirect acceptors (women who adopt a family planning method 3 months later); and 3) total acceptors (direct acceptors plus indirect acceptors). During 1989-90, 97.80% of sterilizations were performed on females, while only 2.20% were performed on males. The acceptance of vasectomy was highest in 1987-88 (14.55%) owing to an enhanced incentive. Females aged 25-29 years were the most receptive group for tubectomy, followed by those aged 30-34 years. During 1987-88, 40.78% of women accepted tubectomy at 25-29 years of age vs. 33.98% at 30-34 years. During 1989-90, 44.58% of females accepted sterilization at 25-29 years of age vs. 30.85% at 30-34 years. The difference between direct and indirect acceptors was statistically highly significant (p 0.001). There were 78.20% direct and 21.80% indirect acceptors during 1988-89. In 1989-90, 48.93% and 24.04% of direct acceptors and 42.08% and 32.02% of indirect acceptors with 3 and 4 living children, respectively, accepted sterilization. However, in all years, sterilization remained the ideal choice for all acceptor couples with 3 living children. During 1988-89, 33.50% of direct and 36.07% of indirect acceptors had tubectomy at parity 2, as compared to 17.64% and 23.42% at parity 4, respectively. A highly significant correlation was observed between the age of the mother and the number of living children (r = 0.95). Surprisingly all the vasectomy cases were indirect acceptors. In 1986-87, 87.86% accepted tubectomy after abortion and delivery vs. only 12.14% after the discharge from the hospital. 59.30% of these immediate acceptors had tubectomies postpartum and only 40.65% after abortion. Tubectomy acceptance along with abortion rose to 76.90% and 71.50% during 1988-89 and 1989-90, respectively. Most couples opted for tubectomy concurrently with abortion after having 3 living children.