A SURVEY of more than 1,000 women in the North Eastern Health Board indicates that only 60 per cent are aware of the time when they are most likely to get pregnant. The survey of 1,002 women, aged between 16 and 45, also found that while 85 per cent claimed to be sexually active, only 64 per cent said they used contraception during sexual intercourse.
Details of this survey and of a survey of GPs in the health board region of Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan were given to board members at a meeting this month. The survey of women on aspects of available family planning services indicated that 86 per cent used contraception to prevent pregnancy 16 per cent said they used it to prevent infection.
The most popular forms of contraception are the pill (45 per cent) and condoms (44 per cent). Natural family planning is used by 10 per cent of women under 3 per cent use diaphragms, IUDs spermicidals or other methods.
The reasons for the choice of method of contraception were ease of use (50 per cent), effectiveness (38 per cent), lack of side effects (34 per cent), easy availability (27 per cent) and doctor's advice (27 per cent).
Sixty per cent of women said they went to their GP for family planning services and felt the information provided was good. However, nearly 50 per cent said the availability of family planning services was poor or very poor in their area, and 25 per cent said they did not have access locally to the family planning services they required.
Nearly 40 per cent of women surveyed felt the most significant improvement that could be to family planing services was provide them locally 51 per cent believed a female doctor was the ideal person to provide such services.
The GPs' survey was answered by 89 per cent of doctors in the region, of whom 36 per cent (42 doctors) have a Family Planning Certificate, a formal qualification in family planning. Eighty three per cent give instruction in natural family planning, 96 per cent prescribe oral contraceptives and 86 per cent provide post coital contraception. Just 34 per cent fit diaphragms and 14 per cent fit IUDs. Only 2.5 per cent perform male sterilisations.
The findings of the survey are complemented by findings of the board's expert advisory group on women's health issues. Most women wanted specific Well Woman health clinics which would include family planning.
Discussing the report at the meeting, Dr Peter Wahlrab said a programme on fertility was needed in schools and pointed out that GPs have been able to prescribe the pill as part of the GMS scheme for only the last two years.
The NEHB said the surveys were carried out to inform the debate on the level of service required and the best way of delivering it. Under the Health Family Planning Act, 1992, and Health (Family Planning) Regulations, all health boards must make available a comprehensive family planning service in their regions.