Knowledge, Attitudes, Perceptions and Socio-demographic Determinants of Acceptance of postpartum bilateral tubal ligation Among Antenatal Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

The postpartum period is a convenient and cost effective time to perform female sterilization specifically bilateral tubal ligation and can be done during a caesarean section or as a sub-umbilical mini-laparotomy post vaginal delivery before uterine involution. Postpartum tubal ligation (PPTL) is one of the most reliable forms of contraception, with a failure rate of 0.1-0.8% .The antenatal period is crucial in counselling patients about PPTL , to eliminate myths and misconceptions regarding the procedure and for this reason it is necessary to understand the socio-demographic factors, the general knowledge, the attitudes and perceptions to postpartum tubal ligation, AIM: This study aims to evaluate the association between socio-demographic factors, the general knowledge, the attitudes and perceptions to postpartum tubal ligation, of women attending antenatal clinic at a tertiary care center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was an observational cross-sectional study conducted over six months in 2023. Antenatal mothers aged between 15-49 years and who gave consent were included in the study and the total study population was 145. Data were collected in a predesigned questionnaire by conducting face to face interviews in their local language. RESULTS: 85.5% participants were aware of post partum sterilization. 58.6% participants were unaware of the risk of becoming pregnant after PPTL and association of this unawareness with participants having no formal education was statistically significant.18.7% believed that PPTL will negatively affect their sex life and a statistically significant association of this belief was found with the level of education.32.4% of participants regarded contraception as anti-religion. Majority (76.5%) participants needed to involve their spouses in their decision and cross tabulation with level of education on this point was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Socio-demographic factors , spouses, religious beliefs and level of education influenced the decision on sterilization. There is a need for inclusion of family planning counseling universally into the routine antenatal clinic activities in order to reduce the sterilization regret, prevent misconceptions and misinformation.