Experiences of Women Who Conceived while Using Long Acting Reversible Contraception in Kabale District

Abstract

Background

Long acting reversible contraceptives are promoted by family planning programs globally as highly effective and convenient family planning methods. The long active reversible contraceptives are however not 100% effective, which may result in unplanned pregnancies that they were primarily intended to avert. The experiences of those women who conceive while using LARCs is largely not documented.

Purpose

To describe the experiences of women who conceived while using LARCs in Kabale district.

Methods:

Using a qualitative descriptive design, thirteen women from Kabale district who had conceived while using LARCs were interviewed about their experiences. The interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically

Findings:

Women who experienced LARC failure were not aware of the possibility of the methods failing at the time they took up the methods. Health workers go ahead to provide hormonal contraceptives to HIV positive women without informing them about the possible drug interactions with some also did not receive counselling to address their fears following the LARC failure.

Conclusions:

Unplanned pregnancies cause psychological, social and economic burden on individuals who have taken precaution to avoid getting pregnant. Comprehensive counselling about method effectiveness prior to taking up the method enables clients make fully informed choices about contraceptive methods hence opting for more appropriate methods and helping them to cope with method failure in case they go ahead to choose the LARCs.

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