O&G Forum

OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY FORUM 2022 | ISSUE 3 | 24 Current Pregnancy and Support e majority of the study population presented within a gestational age appropriate for TOP (<12 weeks) and 18.4% (n=45) reported having a previous TOP. 44.5% (n =109) had a gestational age less than 9 weeks; 35.1% (n=86) had a gestational age between 9- and 12-weeks and only 2.9% (n=7) presented between 12 and 20 weeks. No one presented a er 20 weeks gestation and 17.6% (n=43) of the study population were uncertain of their gestational age at the time of presentation. Table 2 shows that over three quarters of the study population stated that the father is aware of the pregnancy 76.3% (n=187) while 22.9% (n=56) stated that the father was unaware of the pregnancy. Reasons for not informing the father about the planned TOP was documented in only 58 participants, 48.3% (n=28) of participants were no longer with the father and 36.2% (n=21) did not want to tell the father. e father was unknown in 3.4% (n=2) of cases and 12% (n=7) had other reasons for not informing the father, not speci ed. Majority of women (88.6%) had informed at least one person that they were attending the KWHC on that day, 11% had not informed anyone. e decision for TOP was more likely to be discussed with friends 46.9% (n=115) than parents or other family members in 23.2% (n=57) versus the father 10.2% (n=25). Table 2: Showing comparison between level of support amongst di erent age groups (n=59). AGE GROUP 16 – 18 years of age (n=24) 19-35 years of age (n=193) >35 years of age (n=27) Total n=244 Does anyone know that you are here today? Yes 23 10.9%) 173 (70.6%) 20 (8.2%) 217 (88.6%) No 1 (0.4%) 19 7.8%) 6 (2.4%) 27 (11%) No answer 0 0 1 (0.4%) 1 (0.4%) Is father aware of pregnancy? Yes 18 (7.3%) 151 (61.6%) 18 (7.3%) 187 (76.3%) No 7 (2.9%) 41 (16.7%) 8 (3.3%) 56 (22.9%) No answer 0 0 1 (0.4%) 1 (0.4%) Reason why father doesn’t know Primary 1 (0.4%) 2 (0.8%) 2 (0.8%) 5 (2.0%) Secondary 23 (9.4%) 111 (45.3%) 17 (6.9%) 151 (61.6%) Tertiary 0 79 (32.2%) 7 (2.9%) 86 (35,1%) Unknown 1 (0.4%) 0 1 (0.4%) 2 (0.8%) RELATIONSHIP STATUS Single 23 (9.4%) 131 (53.5%) 17 (6.9%) 171 (69.8%) In a Relationship 1 (0.4%) 58 (23.7%) 10 (4.1%) 69 (28.2%) Unknown 1 (0.4%) 3 (1.2%) 0 4 (1.6%) EMPLOYMENT STATUS Unemployed 7 (2.9%) 99 (40.4%) 13 (5.3%) 119 (48.6%) Study/school 17 (6.9%) 59 (24.1%) 2 (0.8%) 78 (31.8%) Employed 1 (0.4%) 31 (12.7%) 11 (4.5%) 43 (17.6%) Unknown 0 3 (1.2%) 1 (0.4%) 4 (1.6%) Access to the TOP service Before attending KWHC, 24.5% (n=60) had either initially visited another clinic and later been referred. 73.1% (n=179) had not visited any other facility prior to coming to KWHC. e study population had come to hear about the KWHC via a multitude of means, depicted in the pie chart below. Pie Chart to show methods by which participants came to hear of WHC Almost 10% (n=24) of the study population said that they do not feel safe attending the KWHC. e most common reason given was ‘other’ at 42%, followed by 38.7% who stated they were ‘afraid someone will see them’. ‘Unfriendly sta ’ was the reason that 19.4% of the study population felt unsafe at the clinic. Family Planning As seen in table 3, prior to falling pregnant, 65.3% (n=160) of study participantswerenotmakinguseoffamilyplanningorcontraception methods, 30.6% (n=75) used some form of contraception and 4.1% (n=10) gave no answer to the question. Only 69 study participants specify which primary method of contraception they were using prior to falling pregnant, namely - pills or oral contraceptives 50.7% (n=35); injectable contraceptives 39.1% (n=27); implants 5.8% (n=4); intrauterine devices (2.9%); and condoms 1.5% (n=1). 43.3% (n=106) of the study participants reported that they had previously O&G Forum 2022; 32: 22-27 ORIGINAL RESEARCH