Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Contraception by Doctors and Women in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Authors

  • Helen Benedict Lasimbang Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Naing Oo Tha Community & Family Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sabah
  • John Beng Ho Teo Klinik Pakar Wanita dan Perbidanan Lintas Square Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
  • Lidwina Edwin Amir Public Health Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51200/bjms.v12i1.749

Keywords:

contraception, knowledge, women

Abstract

Evidence-based data confirm the relationship between an increased availability of effective contraception and reduction in induced abortion rate. In Malaysia, the contraception prevalence rate in 1966 was 8.8 per cent to 52 per cent in 1984, but has levelled off since then. In recent years there has been increasing report of babies ‘abandonment’ in Malaysia. The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to contraception among women and doctors in Kota Kinabalu the capital of Sabah, Malaysia. Descriptive and analytical community-based cross-sectional study was used. A total of 240 women and 60 doctors were selected from either private or public clinics. The instrument used was face-to-face interview for the women and self-administered questionnaires for doctors. Analysis was done using SPSS version 21. The doctors (80%) felt that contraception is extremely important, and routinely discuss (63%) with their patients. Oral contraceptive pill (97%) is the most common type of contraceptive available in their clinics. About 68% of doctors surprisingly cited that abstinence plays a major part in their contraceptive advice. The average correct answer by doctors on knowledge is 62%. The women surveyed (98.8%) have heard of contraception. The main reason for using is for spacing of pregnancy and many stopped or did not use because of fear of side effects. Women attending the public clinic appear to know more about female and male sterilization and intrauterine contraceptive device compared to those attending private clinic. Further research is needed to reinforce this study.

Author Biographies

Helen Benedict Lasimbang, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

Associate Professor Deputy Dean Postgraduate and Research Reproductive Health Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Naing Oo Tha, Community & Family Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Malaysia Sabah

Associate Professor

John Beng Ho Teo, Klinik Pakar Wanita dan Perbidanan Lintas Square Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

MBBS, MRCOG Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

Lidwina Edwin Amir, Public Health Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia

Matron BSc. Nursing (Hons)

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Published

2018-02-02

How to Cite

Lasimbang, H. B., Oo Tha, N., Teo, J. B. H., & Amir, L. E. (2018). Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Contraception by Doctors and Women in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Borneo Journal of Medical Sciences (BJMS), 12(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.51200/bjms.v12i1.749
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