Modern Contraceptive Practice at the Association Ivoirienne Du Bien-Etre Familial (AIBEF) in Bouake: A Status Report

Objective: Contraceptive prevalence remains low in Côte d’Ivoire, despite the government’s free maternal and child health program. However, maternal deaths from unsafe abortions resulting from unintended pregnancies persist. The aim of this study was to contribute to the reduction of maternal mortality. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study over a three-month period from January 1, 2023, to March 31, 2023, after obtaining authorization from the chief physician. We selected all the files of patients who had used a modern contraceptive method during the first half of 2023. We contacted patients who had discontinued use to determine the reasons. Results: The average age was 28.9 ± 7.2 years, and the dominant age group was 21 - 30 with 49.7%. The majority were paucigravida (35.8%), pauciparous (35%), Christian (62.9%), married and self-employed (43.7%). The predominant educational level was tertiary in 28.2% of cases. The injectable method was the most commonly used (46%). The main side effects observed were amenorrhea (19.5%) and bleeding (18.6%). The discontinuation rate was 48.7%, and the reasons for discontinuation were dominated by the desire for motherhood (29.4%), secondary amenorrhea (20%) and bleeding (18.9%). Conclusion: the injectable method was the most widely used in our series. Users were dominated by the 21 - 30 age group and were mainly Christian. The drop-out rate was high, and the main reason was a desire for motherhood.