EXPERIENCE WITH DEPOT MEDROXYPROGESTERONE ACETATE CONTRACEPTION IN A TERTIARY HEALTH FACILITY IN PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA

Clinical experience with depot med Roxy progesterone acetate (DMPA) at the family planning clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between 1st of January 2004 and 31st of December 2013 is presented. This was a descriptive retrospective study aimed at establishing the acceptance, safety and effectiveness in our population. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, source of primary information, complications and accidental pregnancies were obtained from clients. Case files entered into Microsoft excel and analyzed using SPSS for Windows 15.0. Of the 3258 new contraceptive acceptors, 1064(32.66%) used DMPA; making it the most sort after contraceptive method in Port Harcourt. The modal age group of the clients was 30-34(36.84%). While most of the clients had secondary level of education (53.67%) majority of them got their information from health personnel (67.29%). Amenorrhoea was the most common complaint (63.29%). No accidental pregnancy occurred. DMPA is safe, effective and most accepted method of contraception in Port Harcourt. Concerted effort should be made in improving information dissemination on DMPA especially to the rural/non- literate population.