Women's reasons for discontinuing contraceptive use within 12 months: Jamaica.

In Jamaica, contraceptive use is high at 66 per cent. However, only 34 per cent of pregnancies are planned. This study was carried out in 1998 to determine the factors which influenced continuation of use of family planning methods. Primary data were collected from 463 mostly post-natal women utilising eight large clinics in the public health sector in Kingston, Jamaica. They were interviewed using a closed-ended questionnaire three times over a year and a sub-sample participated in focus group discussions. The overall continuation rate was only 56 per cent. Cost of methods was an issue for some women. Long clinic waiting times discouraged women from attending clinics; the scheduling of clinic appointments would reduce this problem. Women need more information about side effects of methods and to be reassured of the quality of methods given out by clinics. Health personnel need to become more aware of the significance of rumors about methods and discuss these with women so that the negative influence of misinformation is minimised. Although the findings of this study are not 'new' information, 'old' problems in the provision of services still exist. Women, at least in poorer communities, continue to lack basic information about contraceptives and there is a need for ongoing attention to improving quality of care.