TY - JOUR
T1 - Fertility desires and the feasibility of contraception counseling among genital fistula patients in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
AU - Benfield, Nerys
AU - Kinsindja, Rogatien M.
AU - Kimona, Christophe
AU - Masoda, Maurice
AU - Ndume, Joseph
AU - Steinauer, Jody
N1 - Funding Information:
The fistula repair program at HEAL Africa Hospital is funded by EngenderHealth and the Tides Foundation . UNFPA provided no-cost contraceptive methods. The research was funded by the Fellowship in Family Planning and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at San Francisco General Hospital.
PY - 2011/9
Y1 - 2011/9
N2 - Objective: To determine the fertility and contraceptive desires of genital fistula patients in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and to evaluate the impact of contraceptive counseling and its effect on contraceptive knowledge and use. Methods: Group contraceptive counseling was offered to fistula patients at HEAL Africa Hospital between February and May 2010. Fertility desires and contraceptive knowledge were assessed via verbally administered questionnaires before and after counseling, and use of modern contraceptive methods was tracked. Results: Of the 61 participants, 22/34 (64.7%) of those who desired children wanted to wait at least 1 year after repair before attempting pregnancy. Overall, 31/58 (53.4%) women had heard of birth control, although only 15 (24.6%) knew any specific methods, and none had ever used contraception. After counseling, all participants could recall 1 or more methods. Of the 25 participants discharged over the subsequent 3 months, 5 (20.0%) and 3 additional fistula patients selected a modern method of contraception. Conclusion: Desire for contraception and birth spacing among women with fistula is significant. Basic group contraception counseling and access are feasible and lead to increased contraceptive knowledge and use.
AB - Objective: To determine the fertility and contraceptive desires of genital fistula patients in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and to evaluate the impact of contraceptive counseling and its effect on contraceptive knowledge and use. Methods: Group contraceptive counseling was offered to fistula patients at HEAL Africa Hospital between February and May 2010. Fertility desires and contraceptive knowledge were assessed via verbally administered questionnaires before and after counseling, and use of modern contraceptive methods was tracked. Results: Of the 61 participants, 22/34 (64.7%) of those who desired children wanted to wait at least 1 year after repair before attempting pregnancy. Overall, 31/58 (53.4%) women had heard of birth control, although only 15 (24.6%) knew any specific methods, and none had ever used contraception. After counseling, all participants could recall 1 or more methods. Of the 25 participants discharged over the subsequent 3 months, 5 (20.0%) and 3 additional fistula patients selected a modern method of contraception. Conclusion: Desire for contraception and birth spacing among women with fistula is significant. Basic group contraception counseling and access are feasible and lead to increased contraceptive knowledge and use.
KW - Contraception
KW - Democratic Republic of the Congo
KW - Genital fistula
KW - Obstetric fistula
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2011.02.024
DO - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2011.02.024
M3 - Article
C2 - 21719010
AN - SCOPUS:79961171247
SN - 0020-7292
VL - 114
SP - 265
EP - 267
JO - International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
JF - International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics
IS - 3
ER -