Field study of an oral contraceptive among IUD drop-outs in rural Korea
Bang, S.; Song, S.W.; Youn, B.B.
Yonsei Medical Journal 9(2): 168-184
1968
ISSN/ISBN: 0513-5796 PMID: 5736715 Document Number: 480324
From November 1966 to December 1967, 911 IUD dropouts in Koyang County, Korea, were interviewed in a study by the Yonsei University College of Medicine on the acceptability and use-effectiveness of an oral contraceptive (Ovulen). Another purpose of the study was to gain experience that might be a useful reference in setting up the technical and administrative policies for adding the pill service to the national program. Results showed that 1) 61.4% of the subjects wanted to use the pill after terminating IUD use; 2) women over 30 years with 4 or more children and/or with a higher educational level were the best prospects for recruitment; 3) more than 60% of the users felt well and sometimes lost their preacceptance symptoms, although 27.4% had side effects (nausea, breast tenerness, bleeding); 4) by the end of the study, 49.2% had discontinued the pill for medical and nonmedical (difficulty in obtaining pills, separation from husband) reasons; and 5) the cumulative continuation rate was 41.0% at the end of 1 year. It was recommended that pills be made more readily available to rural Koreans to reduce the cost of obtaining them.