Research Article

Attitudes and Practices of Healthcare Professionals and Clinical Medical Students on Contraception: A Cross-Sectional Study in Cape Coast, Ghana

Table 4

Comparison of attitudes and practices regarding contraceptive use between health workers and students/trainees.

VariableHealth workers
(%)
Trainees
(%)
value

Formal training in family planning?0.459
Yes158 (62.0)92 (65.7)
No97 (38.0)48 (34.3)
Actively involved with the provision of family planning methods?0.001
Yes58 (22.7)13 (9.3)
No197 (77.3)127 (90.7)
Sexually active?<0.001
Yes184 (72.2)44 (31.4)
No68 (26.7)96 (68.6)
Not indicated3 (1.2)
Is the use of family planning beneficial?a0.924
Yes224 (87.8)125 (89.3)
No6 (2.4)3 (2.1)
Do not know yet25 (9.8)12 (8.6)
Will you use a method of family planning?0.092
Yes216 (84.7)107 (76.4)
No10 (3.9)6 (4.3)
Do not know yet29 (11.4)27 (19.3)
Will you encourage someone closely related to you to use a method?a0.454
Yes225 (88.2)122 (87.1)
No10 (3.9)3 (2.1)
Do not know yet20 (7.8)15 (10.7)
Will you encourage someone not closely related to use a method?0.491
Yes231 (90.6)122 (87.1)
No5 (2.0)5 (3.6)
Do not know yet19 (7.5)13 (9.3)
Have you discussed contraceptive use with your partner before?0.203
Yes133 (52.2)60 (42.9)
No116 (45.5)69 (49.3)
Not indicated6 (2.4)11 (7.9)
Have you used a form of contraceptive before?<0.001
Yes159 (62.4)38 (27.1)
No90 (35.3)100 (71.4)
Not indicated6 (2.4)2 (1.4)
If yes, which one(s)?0.834
Oral20 (12.6)3 (7.9)
Condom and other barrier methods105 (66.0)29 (76.3)
Vaginal ring1 (0.6)
Injectables13 (8.2)1 (2.6)
Subdermal7 (4.4)2 (5.26)
Dermal patch3 (1.9)
IUD7 (4.4)2 (5.26)
Permanent (BTL/vasectomy)1 (0.6)
Natural2 (1.3)1 (2.6)
Were you satisfied with the contraceptive used in the past?0.951
Yes132 (83.0)32 (84.2)
No24 (15.1)6 (15.8)
Not indicated3 (1.9)
Are you currently on a method of contraception?0.447
Yes49 (19.2)22 (15.7)
No205 (80.4)114 (81.4)
Not indicated1 (0.4)4 (2.9)
If yes, which one?a0.412
Oral3 (6.1)5 (22.7)
Condom and other barrier methods25 (51.0)10 (45.5)
Injectables6 (12.2)
Subdermal4 (8.2)2 (9.1)
Dermal patch2 (4.1)4 (18.2)
IUD5 (10.2)
Permanent (BTL/vasectomy)1 (0.4)
Natural3 (2.0)1 (4.6)
If not using a method now, what is the reason(s)?<0.001a
Currently pregnant7 (3.4)
Desire to have a child19 (9.3)1 (0.9)
Currently in the puerperium period3 (1.5)
Lack of knowledge regarding contraceptive5 (2.4)2 (1.8)
Against religious beliefs9 (4.4)6 (5.3)
Opposition of partner6 (2.9)1 (0.9)
Fear of side effects24 (11.7)8 (7.0)
Partner has a permanent method2 (1.0)1 (0.9)
Not willing to disclose116 (56.6)74 (64.9)
Too expensive1 (0.5)3 (2.6)
Single4 (2.0)2 (1.8)
Not sexually active4 (2.0)13 (11.4)
Menopause1 (0.5)
Menstrual cycle1 (0.5)
Other2 (1.0)2 (1.8)
Not indicated1 (0.5)1 (0.9)
Why did you choose that method?0.014a
Easily available21 (42.9)6 (27.3)
Comfortable and easy use23 (46.9)8 (36.4)
Inexpensive2 (4.1)4 (18.2)
Partner’s choice3 (13.6)
Other1 (2.0)
Not indicated2 (4.1)1 (4.5)
How often do use a method of contraceptive?0.198
Always23 (46.9)13 (59.1)
Sometimes25 (51.0)7 (31.8)
Not indicated1 (2.1)2 (9.1)
What is your reason using a contraceptive?0.291a
Having a child when required6 (12.5)2 (9.5)
Spacing of birth5 (10.4)1 (4.8)
Prevention of unwanted births26 (54.2)16 (76.2)
Prevention of STDs8 (16.7)1 (4.8)
Improvement of health3 (6.3)
Menstrual1 (4.8)
Is your partner aware you are on a contraceptive method?1.000a
Yes42 (16.5)17 (12.1)
No6 (2.4)3 (2.1)
Not indicated207 (81.2)120 (85.7)
If he/she is not aware why have you not told him?1.000a
I do not want to have children with him1 (16.7)1 (33.3)
It is my right2 (33.3)1 (33.3)
Not willing to disclose the reason3 (50.0)1 (33.3)

. aAnalysed using Fischer’s exact test.