Acceptance of contraception in couples receiving contraceptive counselling in antenatal period.

Objective: To conduct research in order to determine the effect that antenatal counseling has on the use of contraception during the immediate postpartum period in the conservative society that exists in the rural areas surrounding Lahore, Pakistan. Study Design: Randomized Clinical Trial. Setting: Central Park Teaching Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. Period: Jan, 2022 to April, 2022. Methods: A random selection was used to divide 400 antenatal patients who were at least 28 weeks along in their pregnancies into two groups. Patients who did not receive antenatal counseling regarding birth control options were included in Group X while patients who received antenatal counseling regarding the use of birth control were included in Group Y. A pre-designed proforma was completed following a written informed consent. Data was analyzed using SPSS 26. Results: Data was collected from 400 females (200 in each group) who visited CPTH. The mean age of the female participants was 27.26 + 4.78 years. Most of the participants lived in extended family systems. Nearly one third of the females was illiterate or has primary level of education. Approximately one-fourth of the females were graduated or above. After first pregnancy, 68% in group I and 86% in group II mentioned that they used contraceptive method, (p = 0.005, statistically significant). After second and fifth pregnancy, effect of counseling was affective and difference was statistically significant. The most common contraceptive method was barrier method followed by injection after first and second pregnancy. Conclusion: Antenatal contraceptive counseling proves to be a highly effective intervention in enhancing the acceptance and utilization of contraceptives within the conservative societies of Pakistan. Health care providers ought to undergo comprehensive training and exhibit unwavering motivation in order to effectively engage in antenatal contraceptive counseling.