Abstract

ASSESSMENT OF AWARENESS AND PREVALENCE OF ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS SIDE EFFECT AMONG SAUDI FEMALE SOCIETY: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Dalia Ahmed Elmaghraby* and Saja Alamer

Abstract

Introduction: Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) is the most commonly prescribed form of contraception in the US, and is highly effective when used perfectly.[1] OCPs contain combinations of female hormones estrogen and progestin or progestin alone.[2] OCPs may cause some adverse effects. For example nausea, mood and weight changes, breast tenderness, headaches, and breakthrough bleeding. Objective: The main objective of this study is to assess level of awareness and prevalence of OCPs side effect among Saudi women. Method: A cross sectional study (Questionnaire) was conducted in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire was published between Saudi women through social media. The questionnaire contained a total of 13 questions, 4 of them were demographics. While the other 9 questions related to assessing the Awareness and prevalence. Result: One hundred and ninety-nine women participated in this study. All the respondents completed the questionnaire. Most participants aged between 30 to 40 years old 36.65%, the level of education for most of them was University graduate from Health College 47%, the social status most of them were married 91.10%, and most respondents were from Eastern Province 87.43%. For the second section, 75% of the women do not know about the type of the OCPs used. The primary used of OCPs for most of them is to prevent pregnancy 81.15%. Most of them use it after physician consultation 43%, and most of them read the patient information leaflets which comes with the medicine 75%. Most of the participants use OCPs for more than three years 33%. Regarding to the safety of OCPs most of them think it have side effect 96%. About the Prevalence of OCPs side effect, mood change is the most commonly reported side effect between Saudi women 82%. Most of participants know how to deal with side effect of OCPs by continue taking the medicine 55%. Conclusion: According to study results, Saudi women have adequate knowledge about OCPs. However, they have limited information about the type of the OCPs used. The most common side effect reported was mood change and most of the participants knew how to deal with it.

Keywords: OCPs, contraception, side effect, female hormones, estrogen, progestin.