Satisfaction among women: differences between current users of barrier (male condom) and non-barrier methods.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the differences in and factors related to satisfaction between barrier (male condom) and non-barrier method users. METHODS: A semi-structured questionnaire was used for collecting data for this cross-sectional survey. The questionnaires were completed via one-on-one interviews by the researchers. The study group was selected using stratified random sampling. Exclusion criteria were, being unmarried, pregnant, in postmenopausal status and using traditional methods. A total of 434 currently married women using modern contraceptive methods participated in the study. Contraceptive users were dichotomized into two groups as non-barrier method users and barrier method users. RESULTS: About half of the participants (n = 191, 44%) were barrier method users. Their mean age was 33.7 +/- 7.3 years, 66.6% (n = 131) were well educated and reported significantly less pregnancies, given births, living children and abortions (reproductive history events) than non-barrier users. Barrier method users were significantly more likely to be satisfied with their contraceptive method of choice (OR: 2.4; 95% CI 1.2-5.2). Among barrier method users, deciding the type of the contraceptive method themselves had significant effect on satisfaction.CONCLUSION: In our study, satisfaction was mostly affected by heavy side effects and health risks of the methods resulting in less satisfaction with the contraceptive method among non-barrier method users. Other factors which may influence satisfaction deserve further investigation.