A comparative study of oral acceptors in the three member mission hospitals of Mysore State
Simha, J.S.; Ramesh, A.S.
Journal of the Christian Medical Association of India 47: 513-518
1972
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-5443 PMID: 12332951 Document Number: 360164
A study of oral contraceptive usage in 3 hospitals of Mysore State, India, was undertaken to ascertain demographic characteristics of users, the continuation rate, and to develop indices for program evaluation. The study population consisted of 454 pill acceptors and their status as of December 31, 1971. The results show that the median age was 27.9 years and the mean parity was 4.0. Age, parity, and living children had no bearing on continuity or discontinuity. Average length of use was 5.6 woman months. 47% discontinued use of the pill, with 9% of this group dropping out because of side effects. 58% of the discontinued users were lost to follow-up studies. Accumulated months of participation totaled 221 months, and the average duration projection was 8.2 months. Indices for discontinuation, accumulated program participation, and duration projection were developed. The discontinuation index equals the number of new discontinuing participants divided by previous continuing persons multiplied by 100. Accumulated program participation equals the sum of previous continuing participants plus 1/2 the number of admissions minus 1/2 the number discontinuing. Finally the average duration projection is calculated by dividing the number of continuing persons by the average admitted persons.