The effectiveness of contraceptive counseling for women in the postabortion period: an intervention study

Abstract

Background: Brazilian women who have undergone abortion use contraceptive methods; however, their use of contraceptive methods is inconsistent and/or inappropriate.

Study design: This randomized trial evaluated the effectiveness of a personalized counseling on contraceptive acceptability and its use for postabortion women in the northeast of Brazil. It was conducted in July 2008 to September 2009, enrolling 246 women randomly distributed in intervention (n=123) and control (n=123) groups. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed.

Results: In the follow-up, 98.4% women in the intervention group were using contraceptive methods compared with 70.6% women in the control group (p<.001). The probability of adherence and of the use of any kind of contraceptive method 6 months after the abortion was 41% greater in the intervention group.

Conclusions: The strategy on individualized contraceptive counseling increased the acceptance and the use of contraceptive methods and increased the adequate use of the methods.