Online Contraception Counseling for Primiparous Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of contraception counseling on contraceptive method use in the postpartum period in primiparous women. Data were collected using a questionnaire form prepared by the researchers. The randomized controlled trial was conducted with 70 primiparous women. The intervention group received individualized online contraceptive counseling at 2, 4, and 6 months postpartum. The control group did not receive any intervention. After the sixth month is completed, contraceptive method use was evaluated in both intervention and control groups. While there was no unintended pregnancy in the intervention group, unintended pregnancies occurred in the control group (p<0.05). After counseling, the rate of modern method use in the intervention group was statistically significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.05). In regions where access to counseling services is limited due to economic, geographical, or cultural constraints, online counseling has the potential to increase contraceptive use, prevent unintended and closely spaced pregnancies, and support continued breastfeeding.