Doctors' attitudes towards intrauterine devices
| Variables | Sector | Total (n=240) | P value | |
| Government (n=161) | Private (n=79) | |||
| Side effects which prevent recommendation of IUDs to patients | ||||
| Risk of perforation | 67 (41.9) | 48 (60.0) | 115 (47.9) | 0.008 |
| Heavy menstrual bleeding | 102 (63.7) | 43 (53.8) | 145 (60.4) | 0.135 |
| Increased risk of malignancy | 18 (11.3) | 10 (12.5) | 28 (11.7) | 0.776 |
| Increased risk of ectopic pregnancy | 59 (36.9) | 55 (68.8) | 114 (47.5) | <0.001 |
| Increased risk of acquiring PID | 75 (46.9) | 51 (63.7) | 126 (52.5) | 0.014 |
| Factors/characteristics which negatively influence IUD recommendation | ||||
| Not available in their clinic/not adequate supply in their clinic | 49 (30.6) | 41 (51.2) | 90 (37.5) | 0.002 |
| Need extra time for counselling | 22 (13.8) | 12 (17.5) | 36 (15.0) | 0.793 |
| It is expensive for clients | 9 (5.6) | 11 (13.8) | 20 (8.3) | 0.032 |
| The side effects are too great | 11 (6.9) | 7 (8.8) | 18 (7.5) | 0.603 |
| Favour other method | 48 (30.0) | 33 (41.3) | 81 (33.8) | 0.082 |
| Factors or features that promote IUD recommendation | ||||
| It is a long-term method | 137 (85.6) | 64 (80.0) | 201 (83.8) | 0.265 |
| It is easily reversible | 121 (75.6) | 55 (68.8) | 176 (73.3) | 0.256 |
| It is being promoted by Ministry of Health | 76 (47.5) | 32 (40.0) | 108 (45.0) | 0.271 |
| It is a profitable method | 26 (16.3) | 16 (20.0) | 42 (17.5) | 0.471 |
| It is very effective | 100 (62.5) | 36 (45.0) | 136 (56.7) | 0.010 |
Data expressed in n (%); χ2.
IUD, intrauterine device; PID, pelvic inflammatory disease.