Effectiveness of a Theory-Based Health Education on Intention to Delay Next Pregnancy using Long-Acting Contraceptives (LARC) Among Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Katsina State, Nigeria
Abstract:
Pregnancies
conceived after a short interval within less than 2 years of deliver are
associated with increase health risks for both mothers and the child. A
large number of
women in developing countries would like to delay or stop childbearing but are
not using any method of contraception due to
limited choice of methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving
685 women attending selected antenatal clinics across Katsina State, Nigeria to
determine effectiveness of a theory-based health education intervention on
women’s intention to delay next pregnancy using Long-Acting Reversible
Contraceptives (LARC). Data was collected at baseline and six months
post-intervention using a validated questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS
version 26. Descriptive analysis was performed first to explore the baseline
characteristics of the respondents as well as to explore their
socio-demographic and reproductive and obstetric history. Findings reveal
significant improvements in intention to utilize LARCs post-intervention,
suggesting that theory-driven education can effectively bridge the gap between
knowledge and practice in contraceptive uptake. Limitations include potential
self-reporting bias and loss to follow-up which might affect generalizability.
However, the large sample size, rigorous methodology, and strong statistical
significance enhance the reliability of the findings.
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