Quality of Life and Health Status of Jordanian Women Users of Various Contraceptive Methods and Associated Factors: Implications for Contraceptive Policies.

AIM

The study aimed at investigating the differences in health status of women users and non-users of contraceptive methods and assess differences in contraception quality of life (CQoL) according to method used.

METHODS

Across sectional study with 372 women between the ages of 18 and 49 years old were recruited. Participants completed the health status and the CQoL questionnaire, which was validated using factor analysis combining three factor loading measures with a good Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient.

RESULTS

Results showed that there were no significant differences in health status between users and non-users. There was a significant difference in QoL according to the method used at the p <0.05 level for the three conditions F (2193) = 6.0 and p = 0.003. Post hoc analysis indicated that the total CQoL was significantly higher in IUD users (M = 55.7, SD = 9.6) than users of natural methods (M = 50, SD = 9.0, p < 0.01). In addition, the total CQoL was significantly higher among women from the southern region (M = 56.7, SD = 9.0) than from the northern and mid-regions (M = 49.5, SD = 0.07 and M = 52, SD = 10, respectively, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The physiological changes of women's QoL was affected by the use of the IUD method with significantly lower QoL scores than those who used oral contraceptives and non-hormonal methods. In addition, there was no significant difference in health status between users and non-users of contraceptive methods.

IMPLICATIONS

The study has implications for contraceptive counselling on quality of life of women users of IUD and women from the south region and provides opportunities for the advancement of the reproductive health services in Jordan.