Family planning practices before and after childbirth in Lusaka, Zambia
Susu, B.; Ransjö-Arvidson, A.B.; Chintu, K.; Sundström, K.; Christensson, K.
East African Medical Journal 73(11): 708-713
1996
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-835X PMID: 8997858 Document Number: 382695
This article presents an analysis of contraceptive usage before and after childbirth among 376 women (out of a total of 408 randomly selected women) delivering at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia, during 1989-90. 90% of the original 408 women were married and living with their husbands. 75% lived in the high-density districts of Lusaka. 60% were housewives, and 22% had regular wage employment. 80% of husbands had regular paid employment. 66% reported knowledge of at least one contraceptive method; 34% had no contraceptive knowledge. 97% of those with some knowledge knew about modern methods. 56% of adolescents were unaware of any contraceptive method. 67% did not use any contraceptives. Of the 33% who used a method, 90% used a modern one. 84.4% of unmarried teenagers had not used contraceptives before the study. 58.4% stopped contraceptive use in order to conceive. After 1 year, 64% of 309 women were using contraceptives, of which 55% used a modern method. The most commonly used method was the pill. 17% of the 89 women who used traditional methods relied on lactational amenorrhea. 92% were still breast feeding (2-11 feeds in a 24-hour period) at the end of a year. 47% were menstruating. 68% had resumed sexual relations. 39% of the women at the end of the year who did not use contraception reported that husbands did not allow this practice. 22 women reported that their infant died within the year. Women with 8 or more years of education were more likely to use modern contraception. Contraceptive knowledge and use was influenced by parity, education, marital status, and age. Women mainly asked about what contraceptive methods were available, when to start use, and where to obtain contraception.