Contraceptive use in a rural general practice

Abstract

All women aged 20–49 in a general practice were sent a questionnaire about their reproductive health, and 72% responded. 78% of respondents were using a method of fertility control. More than a quarter of women were obtaining their contraceptive supplies (condoms especially) from non-medical outlets. Knowledge of the existence of emergency contraception was high (83%). The general practitioner (GP) was the most popular source of contraceptive supplies for those aged under 40 years and more than four-fifths of women said that they would rather turn to their GP than to other sources for future contraceptive advice.