Authors

1Mª de los Dolores Vázquez Fernández, 2Rocío García González, 3Mª Gemma Alejandre Lázaro, 2Bárbara Escalonilla Bautista

Position

1 Enfermera de Atención Continuada del Centro de Salud de La Puebla de Montalbán (Toledo).2 Enfermera de Atención Primaria del Área de Salud de Toledo.3 Médico de Familia del Centro de Salud de La Puebla de Montalbán (Toledo).

Contact address

Mª de los Dolores Vázquez Fernández. Avda. Álvaro de Montalbán, s/n. 45516 La Puebla de Montalbán (Toledo).

Contact email: lolavaz6666@yahoo.es

Abstract

Objective: to identify those contraceptive methods used by women during puerperium and the exclusive breastfeeding period, and to assess their performance.
Methods: observational epidemiologic study, descriptive and transversal, through face-to-face interviews, from February to April, 2012. Sample size was estimated in 351 women during puerperium, from different areas in Toledo, and with 6-to-24-month old children. They were selected at Pediatrics waiting rooms. Data collection was conducted through a questionnaire including sociodemographic variables, clinical background, sexual practices or behaviour during puerperium and breastfeeding, and use of contraceptive methods.
Results: the study included 355 women with an average age of 33.9 (±4.6) years. During puerperium, 37.9% (n= 134) of these women did not use any contraceptive method. The most widely used contraceptive was the condom, followed by oral hormonal contraceptives, both during this period and during exclusive breastfeeding.
During the breastfeeding period, 75% of women used contraceptives; 54.8% out of these continued using the same contraceptive used before pregnancy, and 16.9% discontinued using contraceptive methods, particularly oral contraceptives, because they thought they could harm the baby. The adequate use of contraceptives (progestogen-only) was of 53.7% during puerperium and 71% during breastfeeding.
Conclusions: from the point of view of nursing care, it is necessary to reinforce healthcare education on family planning during pregnancy and at the puerperal visit.

Keywords:

contraception; puerperium; breastfeeding; Sexual and Reproductive Health; female health; family and community nursing

Versión en Español

Título:

Uso de anticonceptivos durante el puerperio y la lactancia materna