Relationship between Health Literacy Level and Contraceptive Method Preferences: Intrauterine Device vs. Elective Curettage

Authors : Sakine Rahımlı Ocakoglu, Zeliha Atak, Gökhan Ocakoğlu, Hakan Demirci
Pages : 165-170
Doi:10.32708/uutfd.1474950
View : 121 | Download : 111
Publication Date : 2024-10-08
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Providing reproductive health services is essential to a healthcare system. Reproductive health is an important component of the World Health Organization, indicating that women and men have the right to information and access to safe and effective contraceptive methods. Unfortunately, not all individuals are aware of the reliable contraceptive methods currently available today; this is the main factor leading to unwanted pregnancy, which is terminated with Elective Curettage. The present study aims to compare the Health Literacy (HL) levels of patients who use intrauterine devices (IUD) for contraception with those who underwent Elective Curettage (E&C) to terminate unwanted pregnancies. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 467 participants who applied to the Family Planning Department to terminate unintended pregnancy with E&C (n=59) and those who used an IUD for contraception (n=408). The study shows no differences between the groups according to the HL level determined for the overall HL scale. However, the \"Health Promotion\" subscale\'s median score was higher in the E&C group (p=0.002). The logistic regression analysis showed that the tendency of unemployed women to prefer E&C was 11.15 times more than that of employed women. Moreover, those with a history of curettage were 4.95 times more likely to prefer the E&C method. In conclusion, \"Health Promotion\" is related to the ability to evaluate the health warnings of the environment. It can be interpreted that the environment influences women\'s E&C preferences. The frequent occurrence of E&C in unemployed women must also be examined in a sociocultural context.
Keywords : Sağlık okuryazarlığı, sağlığın geliştirilmesi, Aile Planlaması Polikliniği, rahim içi araç, elektif küretaj

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