Knowledge and attitude about intrauterine contraceptive devices among patients attending the National Guard Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives

To investigate women’s knowledge and attitudes regarding the use of the intrauterine device (IUD) for contraceptive purposes and to explore eventual misconceptions about its benefits, and disadvantages.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OB/GYN) outpatient department at King Khalid National Guard Hospital in King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It involved women aged 15–55 years, who attended the outpatient OB/GYN clinic from July 2018 till May 2019. A validated self-structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and clinical data; including, medical and surgical history, obstetrical and gynaecological history.

Results

Of 269 participants, 32.3% reported a positive history of unintended pregnancy, and 28.6% declared using or having used IUD, with copper being the most frequent type (17.8%). A majority (81.4%) of the respondents viewed IUD as a contraceptive method only. In comparison, more than 70% declared not knowing the type of IUD used for bleeding control, cycle regulation, endometriosis treatment, cervix cancer prevention, and endometrial hyperplasia. Further, 21.9% and 55.4% believed that IUD increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy and infections, respectively.

Conclusion

Women attending outpatient clinics in our centre had poor knowledge levels about IUDs, with several misconceptions and apprehensions, especially regarding the risk of genital infections and ectopic pregnancy, which may constitute a significant psychological barrier use.

沙特阿拉伯吉达国民警卫队医院就诊患者对宫内节育器的认知和态度:一项横断面研究 摘要

目的：调查女性对使用宫内节育器(IUD)避孕的认知和态度, 并探讨最终对其获益和缺点的误解。方法：在沙特阿拉伯吉达阿卜杜勒-阿齐兹国王医学城的哈立德国王国民警卫队医院的妇产科(OB/GYN)门诊部进行横断面研究。研究纳入年龄在15-55岁之间的女性, 她们从2018年7月到2019年5月到妇产科门诊就诊。使用有效的自编问卷收集人口学数据和临床数据, 包括内科和外科病史、产科和妇科病史。结果：在269名受试者中, 32.3%的人报告有意外妊娠史, 28.6%的人声称使用或曾经使用过宫内节育器, 其中铜是最常见的类型(17.8%)。大多数(81.4%)的受访者认为宫内节育器只是一种避孕方法。相比之下, 超过70%的人表示不知道可用于控制出血、调节周期、治疗子宫内膜异位症、预防宫颈癌和子宫内膜增生的宫内节育器的类型。此外, 21.9%和55.4%的人认为宫内节育器会增加异位妊娠和感染的风险。结论：本中心门诊女性对宫内节育器的认知水平较低, 存在一定的误区和疑虑, 特别是对生殖器感染和宫外孕的风险认识不足, 这可能构成了使用宫内节育器的重要心理障碍。

Keywords:

• Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD)
• contraception
• contraceptive knowledge
• Saudi Arabia
• unintended pregnancy

Acknowledgments

Authors acknowledge Dr. Mohamed Amine HAIRECHE for his support and valuable inputs in the preparation of this paper. The authors also extend gratitude towards King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre (KAIMRC) for making the present study possible.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The data set of the present study is available on written request from the authors.