The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48267

Sanda Çali, MD¹, Dilsad Cebeci, MD, MPH¹, Sibel Kalaça, MD, MPH¹, Melda Karavus, MD¹, and Irit Sinai, PhD². (1) Medical Faculty, Department of Public Health, Marmara University, Tibbiye cad., 81326 Haydarpasa, Istanbul, Turkey, (2) Institute for Reproductive Health, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 4301 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008, 202-687-1392, sandacali@superonline.com

Unmet need for family planning remains high in Umraniye, a rapidly-urbanizing area of Istanbul, Turkey, despite the availability of a wide variety of methods. Previous research suggests that expanding method mix by offering a fertility awareness-based method could address some of the unmet need. Our study tests this assertion. The Standard Days Method (SDM) identifies days 8-19 of the menstrual cycle as fertile. To help prevent pregnancy, users avoid unprotected intercourse during these days. We examined interest and acceptance of the SDM among couples using traditional methods, condoms inconsistently, or no method. The study was funded by WHO and carried out by researchers from Marmara University. We systematically selected 657 women in Umraniye. 346 were eligible to participate in the study (were using a traditional method of family planning, condoms inconsistently, or no method). Of these, 278 were interested in the SDM - a very high rate, considering these women had never heard of the method. 166 women had cycles regularly ranging 26-32 days, and were therefore eligible to use the method. Husbands of 132 women agreed to use it. These women were taught the method. At four months 44% were still using it. 12.5% of women who stopped using the method did so to start using another family planning method (other than withdrawal). Results suggest that the SDM is an acceptable family planning alternative for couples in Umraniye and indicate that it may be a good introductory method for women who accept other family planning methods after short SDM use

Learning Objectives:

AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS PRESENTATION, PARTICIPANTS WILL (
• RECOGNIZE THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF THE STANDARD DAYS METHOD (SDM) IN ADDRESSING UNMET NEED; AND (
• UNDERSTAND THE PROMISE OF THE SDM AS AN INTRODUCTORY METHOD

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.