Int J Pharm Pharm Sci, Vol 12, Issue 8, 149-155Original Article
PREVALENCE AND CORRELATION OF CONTRACEPTIVE USE AMONG FEMALES IN JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA
ALAA BAGALAGEL1
1Pharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Email: abagalagel@kau.edu.sa
Received: 30 Apr 2020, Revised and Accepted: 12 Jun 2020
ABSTRACT
Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of contraceptive use and the correlates of contraceptive use among females in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Moreover, it aimed to evaluate the knowledge about contraceptives and their use.
Methods: The study was a community-based, cross-sectional descriptive survey conducted in Saudi Arabia from 28 September 2015 to 10 December 2015.
Results: The current study showed that the most commonly used contraceptives were intrauterine devices (IUD’s) (29.1%), followed by male condoms (27.7%). Most of the participants, 47.6%, started using a contraceptive after giving birth to their first child. Nearby, 60% of participants used contraceptives without a prescription or medical advice. Only 13.7 % of participants sought the advice of a pharmacist about which contraceptive they should use, while 30.6% and 24.2% of participants choose their contraceptive based on general knowledge and relatives’ experiences, respectively. Around 80% of participants stated that they did not have any problem while buying contraceptives from pharmacies without a prescription.
Conclusion: Pharmacists and medical health providers need to fill this gap to improve the use of contraceptives.
Keywords: Contraceptives, Prevalence, Saudi Arabia
© 2020 The Authors. Published by Innovare Academic Sciences Pvt Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.22159/ijpps.2020v12i8.38100. Journal homepage: https://innovareacademics.in/journals/index.php/ijpps.
INTRODUCTION
Millions of women around the world have used contraceptives since their debut in 1957. Contraceptives remain the most prescribed medications for women ages 18-44 [1]. They enable women to control their reproduction and, thereby, other aspects of their lives, such as career and family [2].
Over the past 40 y, there have been significant advances in their development [3]. However, current policies and health care practices in some countries are based on scientific studies of contraceptive products that are no longer widely used [4]. Because country situations and program environments vary so greatly, it is inappropriate to set firm international guidelines on criteria for contraceptive use [5]. It is expected that national programs will use these recommendations for updating or developing their own contraceptive eligibility guidelines according to national health policies, needs, priorities and resources, while reflecting upon local values and preferences [6].
There are many contraceptive methods. Some of the most commonly used are: intrauterine devices (IUDs), long-acting and reversible contraceptive devices [7], an emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) taken orally after unprotected sex [8], and Levonorgestrel (LNG) also taken post-coitally "after intercourse", a method of emergency contraception (EC) that arrests or delays ovulation [9-11], and, the vaginal ring, which administers the delivery of selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs) into the body [12].
Besides the methods listed above, a less complex method is the condom. Scientifically recommended as potential products for preventing infections attributable to human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV), condoms act as a barrier to keep sperm from entering the uterus [13]. Another wearable contraceptive choice is the patch which provides the systemic delivery of steroid hormones by transdermal technology using patches that contain estrogen or estrogen plus a progestin that has been successfully used for contraception [14]. Yet another product of choice, but more invasive, is the Implantable birth control rod, a matchstick-sized, flexible plastic, the surgically inserted device that releases progestin [15].
Female patients requiring treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are advised to avoid pregnancy because of the high associated mortality rate [16], and oral contraception is one of the main methods of preventing pregnancy. They may be combined, or progesterone alone, the combined oral contraceptive pills (COCs) contain different combinations of the synthetic estrogens and are given to interfere with ovulation. In contrast, Progestin-only pills (POPs) may interfere with ovulation or with sperm function by thickening cervical mucus, making it difficult for sperm to move [17]. In most countries, various types of pills are available, and studies have shown an increased risk of venous thromboembolism with the use of combined oral contraceptives [18-20]. This risk differs according to a type of progestogen and decreases with both duration of use and decreasing estrogen dose [21, 22].
A progestogen-only injectable contraceptive is also available that acts for a long time and involves an injection of a progestin as a depot. Progestogen-only injectable contraception is highly effective, reversible and safe for most women [23].
A less scientific alternative is the natural method. This involves recording the fertile and infertile times of a woman’s cycle to plan when to avoid pregnancy [24].
Using contraceptives in recent years, an integral part of a healthy lifestyle remains one of the most significant challenges for human beings; this challenge is the need to expand the use of contraceptives in Saudi Arabia and the world in controlled ways and to seek to address the effects of overpopulation. The who forecasts that the world's population, at present, which is about six billion people and is estimated to rise until it reaches almost eight billion by 2025, more than nine billion in 2050 [25].
The present study aims to determine the extent of use of contraceptives between people in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, its aim is to evaluate the knowledge about contraceptives and their use among the population as well as the intervention and effective communication between pharmacists and patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Methods
The study was a community-based, cross-sectional survey conducted in Jeddah, Saudi from 28 September 2015 to 10 December 2015. The current study was carried out on 618 adult participants ages 13-50 y for an assumed prevalence of contraceptives. Each participant was asked through direct contact to complete a structured self-administered questionnaire, available in Arabic and English. Pilot questionnaires were distributed for validation. Population samples were selected randomly through the distribution of the questionnaires through four high schools, one university, hospitals and an electronic survey. The collected data were pooled and analyzed by description.
A structured questionnaire (table 1) consisted of three sections (i) the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the participant; (ii) participants' knowledge and attitudes regarding contraceptives use; and (iii) the intervention and effective communication between physician, pharmacist and patients.
Table 1: Survey questionnaire
| Section (I) |
| How old are you? |
| What is your nationality? |
| What is your level of education? |
| What is your occupation? |
| What is your income? |
| Are you a smoker? |
| What is your skin color? |
| What is your husband's educational level? |
| What is your husband's occupation? |
| Section (II) |
| Do you have general information about the menstrual cycle and what the best time would be for intercourse in order to conceive or avoid pregnancy? |
| Do you have any general information about the different ways to prevent pregnancy or do you just know one thing? |
| What do you think about contraception, in general? |
| If you answered that it is not good, what is the reason? |
| Do you or have you used contraceptives before? |
| If you answered "yes", what are the types? |
| At what age did you start to use contraceptives? |
| Do you use contraceptives after having a child? |
| What is the reason for contraceptive use? |
| Do you have any chronic diseases? |
| If you answered “yes”, which? |
| Do you take any other drugs with contraceptives? |
| If you answered “yes”, what are these drugs? |
| Are you fully aware of the side effects of contraceptives? |
| During your use of contraceptives, did any side effects appear? |
| If you answered “yes”, what were they? |
Did any psychological changes occur while using contraceptives? Did you stop using immediately if you saw one of the following symptoms?
|
| Did the side effects persist after you stopped contraceptives? |
| If you answered “yes”, did you consult a doctor? |
| Did the pharmacist refuse to allow you to buy contraceptive pills without a prescription? |
| Did you get pregnant while you were on a contraceptive? |
| Did you try to change the type? |
| If you answered “yes”, what is the reason? |
| What is the appropriate time to use contraception? |
| Section (III) |
| Did you consult a physician before using a contraceptive? |
| If you have not consulted a doctor, what was your source and choice of contraceptive? |
| Did your doctor ask you to do some tests? |
| If you answered “yes”, which one(s)? |
| Did your doctor ask if you suffer from depression or psychological issues? |
| Did you tell your doctor if you use some form of contraceptive? |
RESULTS
A questionnaire was distributed in the Jeddah community, 618 women were included in the study. The current study showed that the most commonly used contraceptive is an IUD, and intrauterine device (fig. 1).
We found that 47.6% of participants started to use contraceptives after giving birth to their first child, and 64.8% decided to use them due to family planning (fig. 2). Furthermore, around 60% of the participants were using contraceptives without prescriptions. Their source for information about contraceptives was obtained mainly from general information (30.6%), and 24.2% of participants used relatives for advice on how to use contraceptives (fig. 3). Socio-demographics of participants and its relation to the type of contraceptive use is shown in table 2. Furthermore, knowledge and attitude about contraceptives are stated in table 3. The role of physicians and pharmacists were obtained from participants’ responses, as presented in table 4.
Fig. 1: Prevalence of contraceptive use
Fig. 2: Timing and source of contraceptive use
Fig. 3: Prescribed contraceptives and source of information
Table 2: Socio-demographics of participants and its relation to the type of contraceptive use
| Type of contraceptives number (%) | |||||||||
| Male condom | Tablets | Implant | Patch | Natural | IUD | Female condom | Injection | Ring | |
Total: 618 (100%) |
482 (77.99) |
534 (86.4) | 143 (23.13) |
403 (65.21) |
421 (68.12) |
507 (82.03) |
172 (27.83) |
290 (46.92) |
224 (36.24) |
Age: -13-18 -19-30 -31-40 ->40 |
1 (0.20) 98 (20.33) 177 (36.72) 7 (18.04) |
2 (0.37) 117 (21.92) 196 (36.70) 99 (18.5) |
0 62 (43.35) 53 (37) 25 (17.48) |
2 (0.49) 65 (16.1) 153 (37.96) 69 (17.12) |
1 (0.23) 89 (21.14)154 (36.57)72 (17.10) |
2 (0.39) 102 (20.11) 187(36.88) 102 (20.11) |
1 (0.58) 42 (24.41) 56 (32.55) 27 (15.69) |
0 57 (19.65) 116 (40) 49 (16.89) |
0 53 (23.66) 77 (34.37) 41 (18.30) |
Education level: -low -moderate -high |
96 (19.9) 312 (64.73) 68 (14.10) |
77 (14.41) 241 (45.13) 74 (13.85) |
20 (13.98) 70 (48.95) 29 (20.27) |
75 (18.61) 223 (55.33) 55 (13.64) |
71 (16.86) 232 (55.10) 60 (14.25) |
104 (20.51) 273 (53.84) 59 (11.63) |
28 (16.27) 89 (51.74) 29 (16.86) |
54 (18.62) 157 (54.13) 47 (16.20) |
38 (16.96) 109 (48.66) 38 (16.96) |
Work: -Work -Don’t work |
174 (36.09) 191 (29.62) |
196 (36.70) 221 (41.38) |
73 (51.04) 47 (32.86) |
152 (37.71) 154 (38.21) |
164 (38.95) 167 (39.66) |
190 (37.4) 205 (40.4) |
76 (44.18) 64 (37.20) |
122 (42.06) 102 (35.17) |
88 (39.2) 85 (37.90) |
Husband’s’ work: -Work -Don’t work Irregular work |
10 (2.07) 0 1 (0.2) |
256 (47.9) 23 (4.3) 28(5.24) |
1 (0.69) 0 0 |
52 (12.9) 6 (1.48) 6 (1.48) |
2 (0.47) 0 0 |
43 (8.48) 5 (0.98) 4 (0.78) |
0 0 0 |
17 (5.86) 0 0 |
4 (1.78) 0 0 |
Social level: -Low -Mid -High |
92 (19.08) 157 (32.57) 145 (30.08) |
116 (21.72) 163 (30.52) 156 (29.21) |
23 (16.08) 35 (24.47) 52 (36.36) |
70 (17.36) 136 (33.74) 132 (32.75) |
71 (16.86) 138 (32.77) 137 (32.54) |
100 (19.72) 160 (31.55) 153 (30.17) |
20 (11.62) 58 (33.72) 56 (32.55) |
42 (14.48) 100 (34.48) 130 (44.82) |
30 (13.39) 75 (33.48) 107 (47.76) |
Skin color: -White -Brown -Wheaten |
171 (35.47) 18 (3.73) 261 (54.14) |
180 (33.70) 28 (5.24) 286 (53.55) |
53 (37.06) 6 (4.19) 84 (58.74) |
138 (34.24) 16 (3.97) 246 (61.04) |
146 (34.67) 18 (4.27) 225 (53.44) |
170 (33.53) 25 (4.93) 303 (59.76) |
63 (36.62) 9 (5.23) 88 (51.16) |
100 (34.48) 12 (4.13) 173 (59.65) |
85 (37.94) 10 (4.46) 113 (50.44) |
Smoking: -Smoke -Don’t smoke |
1 (0.2) 9 (1.86) |
56 (10.4) 251 (47) |
0 1 (0.69) |
13 (3.22 51 (12.6) |
0 2 (0.47) |
8 (1.57) 47 (9.27) |
0 0 |
15 (5.17) 15 (5.17) |
1 (0.44) 3 (1.33) |
Table 3: Knowledge and attitude about contraceptives
| Knowledge | Response, number (%) |
| Consult a physician before using |
|
| Knowing about side effects |
|
| Knowing about contraceptive types |
|
| Getting pregnant while using |
|
| trying to change the type |
|
| If you answered “yes”, what is the reason (for changing) |
|
Table 4: Role of physicians and pharmacists
| Role | Response, number (%) |
| Doctor asked to do some investigations |
|
| The type of investigations |
|
| Doctor asked about depression or psychological issues |
|
| Finding refusal from the pharmacist (being denied) while buying without a prescription |
|
DISCUSSION
Since contraceptives first became available in the 1960s, they have been in extensive use throughout the world. Convenient and useful, birth control pills are also beneficial in treating menstrual disorders [26]. Effective contraception is a significant factor in a woman’s ability to plan her pregnancies, that is to achieve desired birth spacing and family size [27], changes in contraceptive method choice and use have not decreased the overall proportion of pregnancies that are unintended due to compositional changes in race, marital state, age, place of residence, education and income [28].
Most women in the US used pills (51%), with approximately 50% of users in the age range of 15–19, 40% being 20–24 y of age, and 10% at age 40–44 y [29]. There were changes in current method choice by race and education; pill use decreased among Black women to 18%, but still higher than for White women. Three times as many women with a bachelor’s degree or higher relied on the pill (35%) [30]. And, 77.4% of women with public insurance, incomes above 5,500$/month and who lived in nonmetropolitan areas were much more likely to use the pill as a contraceptive method compared with 22.6% without insurance; and, those living in central cities were more likely to rely on the condom [31]
Oral contraceptives (OCs) have been available in Canada for over 50 y until now, with decreasing estrogen doses, new progestins, and different dosing regimens. However, pill use in Canada is a second choice (36%) [32]. Among oral contraceptive users (36%) reported smoking either daily or occasionally. Almost all (99%) OC users took combined formulations containing ethinyl estradiol (EE) and progestin. Others took formulations containing 30 or more mcg of EE [33].
OC use decreased with age, 60.4% of women aged 15-30 reported taking OCs, 36.6% women aged 31-49 [34]. Oral contraceptives use was significantly higher for women with post-secondary education (44%) than for those for women who did not have this level of schooling, and, finally, among those who reported having prescription drug insurance coverage (57.2%) more than women who had no such benefits [35]. The percentage of White women using oral contraceptives was markedly lower (19%) compared with Black women who said they were not on the pill (30%) [36]. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers the prevalence of contraceptive usage among Saudi society in Riyadh city as one of the determinants of women’s health and empowerment in that society. Some societies use contraceptives to regulate pregnancies and in birth spacing. Religious issues may also play a significant role in determining how couples view such issues as contraception. Certain religions do not permit the use of contraception, and children from religious families may not even know the essentials on birth control methods [22]. The current study shows that the preferable type of contraception in Riyadh is the pill (71.7%). Use of different types of contraception according to age in the current study revealed that young females preferred the use of the vaginal ring and older females preferred either the IUD or pills; 21.1% aged 17-25 y old; 40.9% of pill users aged 26-35 y old; and 33% aged 36-50 y [37].
Education on various methods of birth control, as well as the distribution of contraceptives, is a significant concern for the international community, women who have a bachelor’s degree or higher are 78.1% [38]. The current study illustrates that the attitude of females towards contraception was affected by their working status, finding it was better among housewives, more than half were working (52.1%); and only 3.9% of participants had an income of less than 3,000 riyals/month, while 44.1% had an income higher than 13,000 riyals/month. The majority of the sample was married (94.4%) [39]. Only 4.3% of Saudi Arabian women used pills as a contraceptive method because they think the other methods provide more control than pills. Saudi women have purchased over six million birth control pills costing SR 108 million in 2014. Women usually buy certain brands, with the Gynera brand being in the lead with sales of SR 34.2 million, followed by Yasmin at SR 27.2 million, Marvelon at SR 23 million, and Neo Sampoon at SR 4,600,000 as reported the same year [40].
Preferences for fertility control include family size, the timing of establishing a family, and choice of occupation. Canadians and their health care providers are thus involved in infertility-related decisions that will fundamentally influence individual lives and society as a whole well into the future [41]. Family planning decisions affect and are influenced by emotional health, sexual attitudes and behaviors, gender equity, the quality of relationships, and respect between men and women [42]. Condom use was higher among all age-groups (99%) with the exception of men aged 45-49. Condom use was more common among males than females [43]. Condom use among White men was 60% but still higher in Black men. Non-educated men were slightly higher by 55.5% than those who are educated at 44.5% [44]. The statistics showed Americans using condoms as a second choice (30%); overall, 46% of men aged 15–44 used condoms, and 54% were not. The percentage using, and the type of method used vary significantly by age [45]. A more significant percentage of White men (66%) were using condoms compared with Black men at 54% [46]. Research showed that many people in Riyadh continue to have fears and misconceptions about modern contraceptives. Condom use in Riyadh is low (1%) [47]. Approximately 27.7% of the Saudi Arabian population used [male] condoms, almost all condom users were employed (87.5%) and those above 40 y of age (51%) higher than for younger individuals.
An Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) is a T-shaped device containing a copper thread or cylinders which is placed in the uterus by a health care provider. The IUD releases copper ions which immobilize the sperm and make inhibit their ability to move around in the womb but do not stop the ovaries from producing an egg each month [48].
An IUD is one of the contraceptive methods commonly used in the USA. The US rate remains significantly higher (9%) [49] than that in Canada (4.8%) and European countries. Use of an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) is associated with marked reductions in unintended pregnancy among adolescents [50]. In Riyadh, the IUD is a second choice (20.1%), according to age, young females preferred the use of vaginal rings and older females preferred either the IUD or pills. The percentage of highly educated women was higher (66.2%). The average income of IUD users was more than 13,000 riyals/month [51]. In this research study, we found that the preferred method in Saudi Arabia was the IUD (29.1%); most having an average income of more than 10,000 riyals/month (75.5%).
Younger women from19-30 were less likely to use IUD’s, but others ages 31-40 used them more (57.1%) and ages 40-above (24.4%). Most women the IUD having a bachelor’s degree (51%) and employed (53%). Also, Blacks at (69.3%) which is much more than Whites [52].
The contraceptive injection is a shot of hormones either in the muscle or under the skin that lasts for one up to 3 mo. It contains hormones, either a progestin alone or progestin and estrogen together that prevents the body from releasing eggs and thickens the mucus at the cervix. The way it works is similar to the pill or the ring, except the user does not have to remember to take it every day or week [53]. Women residing in the US are less likely to use the injection (3.1%) [54] then (1.7%) for Canadians and women in Riyadh (0.4%) [55], respectively. Contraceptive injection is probably not the best choice for those afraid of needles, so many countries do not utilize this method [56]. In Saudi Arabia, 7% of women used injectable contraceptives, and of this number, 87.5% were employed and not smokers.
The types of contraceptive devices and methods have increased with the development of the transdermal patch. The efficacy and safety of this method is similar to those of combined oral contraceptives. However, it differs from the pill in the route of hormone delivery and frequency of administration [57]. The contraceptive patch is just as it states, it is a patch that resembles polished plaster and sticks to the skin. The patch is highly effective in preventing unwanted pregnancies by releasing hormones. The hormones, estrogen and progestin, are released continuously, entering the bloodstream through the skin [57]. Approximately 2.7% of US women had used the transdermal patch. Physicians did not consider combined hormonal contraceptives to be a suitable method for participating women, mainly due to the presence of contraindications or medical conditions [58]. Also, having a low usage rate is Riyadh at (2.4%) [59] and then in Canada at 1.2% [60]. In Saudi Arabia, the contraceptive patch is negligible (0.1%) because Saudi women depend on other methods and some (12.5%) have a chronic disease, thus, prohibiting their ability to utilize this contraceptive.
Another device, the implant contraceptive, is placed just below the skin of the upper arm, where it continually releases the hormone progestin in small doses from a reservoir into the bloodstream. The modern contraceptive prevalence rate remains low. It may initially cause a change in bleeding patterns and may cause weight gain, breast and abdominal pain [61]. Yet, the uptake of implants increased slightly from 2.1%% to 2.5% in the US, at the time of this study [62]. It is, however, still low in Canada (1.5%) [63] and in Riyadh (1.4%) [64]. In Saudi Arabia, the number of people using an implant contraceptive is 8.2%, their source of method choice based on general information and personal reading.
Similar to the implant, a contraceptive ring is available that also eliminates the need for daily dosing. The contraceptive ring, also known as the vaginal ring, is a bright and flexible ring of polyethylene vinyl acetate that, once inserted into the vagina, slowly releases the hormones progestin and estrogen into the body to stop the ovaries from releasing eggs [39].
It may cause vaginal discharge, discomfort and irritation in the vagina, and weight gain. Because of these problems, the vaginal ring has the lowest rate of use by women in the United States (1.1%) [65], Canada (0.6%) [66] and Riyadh (1.2%) [67]. Vaginal ring usage is shallow among Saudi Arabian women (12%) but almost (99.6%) all having a higher income (more than 10,000 riyals/month).
Contraceptive use and method choice may change over time for various reasons, including the availability of new methods and more considerable societal changes in fertility patterns. For example, the average age at first birth for women in the United States has increased in recent decades, at least partially because of an increase in first births to women aged 35 [68]. This suggests potential changes over time in the use of contraception by age as first births are delayed. Acceptance of and ability to correctly and consistently use this technology may create challenges for future ring-based microbe-cide trials in settings where this technology has not been introduced [69]. Natural Family Planning (NFP) is the ability of individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births [47]. Only 0.6% of women had never previously used contraceptive methods in the US [70]. If compared with Canadian women, only 0.2% were in natural family planning [71]. 1.8% of women in Riyadh did not use contraception medications reported due to medical reasons; so, they depend on natural family planning. Women need methods that provide them with greater control; so, natural family planning is typically reflected by Saudi women (0.9%) [47]. This study has potential limitations includes inadequate sample size compared to population and lack of enough previous studies in the same geographical region.
CONCLUSION
Pharmacists and medical health providers have to fill the gap to improve the use of contraceptives. Government, policymakers, decision-makers and other stakeholders should intensify education on the use of contraceptives.
FUNDING
Nil
AUTHORS CONTRIBUTIONS
Alaa Bagalagel write the final manuscript and supervised the findings of this work.
CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS
Declared none
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