PREVALENCE OF CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE AMONG MARRIED PREGNANT FEMALES AT PESSI, MNCH, KLP, LAHORE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71000/ajmr0k73Keywords:
Antenatal Care; Contraception; Contraceptive Prevalence; Family Planning Services; Pakistan; Postpartum Period; Pregnant Women.Abstract
Background: Family planning is an important component of maternal and reproductive healthcare because it supports planned pregnancies, healthy birth spacing, and reduction of unintended pregnancies. Pregnant women attending antenatal clinics represent an important group for contraceptive counseling, particularly for postpartum family planning. However, contraceptive use before pregnancy and future contraceptive intentions are often not adequately assessed during routine antenatal care, especially in facility-based populations in Pakistan.
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of contraceptive use among married pregnant women attending antenatal care and to identify the types of contraceptive methods used before the current pregnancy.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of Punjab Employees Social Security Institution, Maternal, Newborn and Child Healthcare Centre, Kot Lakhpat, Lahore. The study duration was nine months, from June 2025 to February 2026, while data collection was completed over one month. A total of 138 married pregnant women aged 18–45 years were recruited through convenience sampling during antenatal visits. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from a previously validated tool. The questionnaire included socio-demographic details, reproductive history, contraceptive awareness, previous contraceptive use, counseling, decision-making, barriers, and future intention. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, and descriptive statistics were presented as frequencies and percentages.
Results: The mean age of participants was 28.22 ± 4.58 years. Most participants were aged 26–33 years 73 (52.9%), housewives 101 (73.2%), and had Quranic education 66 (47.8%). Five or more pregnancies were reported by 38 (27.5%), and a birth interval of less than two years was reported by 81 (58.7%). Awareness of contraception was reported by 123 (89.1%) participants, while 58 (42.0%) had ever used contraception. Among users, male condoms were most common 36 (62.1%), followed by injectables 15 (25.9%), intrauterine contraceptive devices 12 (20.7%), oral pills 10 (17.2%), and implants 2 (3.4%). Counseling before contraceptive use was received by 31 (53.4%) users. Only 33 (23.9%) participants had used contraception before the current pregnancy. Future contraceptive intention was reported by 64 (46.4%), while 57 (41.3%) were unsure.
Conclusion: Contraceptive awareness was high, but previous use before the current pregnancy remained low. Spousal, social, and counseling-related factors appeared to influence contraceptive uptake, highlighting the need for routine antenatal and postpartum family planning counseling.
Keywords: Antenatal Care; Contraception; Contraceptive Prevalence; Family Planning Services; Pakistan; Postpartum Period; Pregnant Women.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Aqsa Rafiq, Tasmia Tariq, Huma Amjad , Wajiha Aslam , Kiran Shehzadi , Amina Islam , Ali Hamza, Razia Parveen (Author)
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