Contraceptive use increasing

While contraception may not be openly discussed, knowledge of contraceptive methods in Turkmenistan is widespread, according to a new survey. "Contraception usage is increasing," national programme officer for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr Eziz Khellenov told IRIN in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat on Monday. "Over the past five years the number of women using modern contraception measures has increased significantly," he maintained. According to an independent survey commissioned by the Turkmen Ministry of Health - the Turkmenistan Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) released in September, among married women, knowledge of at least one method was universal (99 percent). Data on contraceptive knowledge was collected by asking the respondent to name ways or methods by which a couple could delay or avoid pregnancy. The report defines contraceptive methods as including both modern and traditional methods. Modern methods include the pill, the IUD, injectables, female and male sterilisation, implants, barrier methods (diaphragm, foam, jelly, and both male and female condoms), emergency contraception, and the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM), while traditional methods included periodic abstinence (rhythm method) and withdrawal. Married women have knowledge of, on average, six methods of contraception. The TDHS report added that among currently married women, 89 percent had used a method of contraception at some time, and as expected, older women were more likely to have used contraception than younger women. Among currently married women, 62 percent are currently using contraception, with 52 percent using a modern method, and nine percent using a traditional method. The IUD is by far the most commonly used method: two out of three traditional users have an IUD (39 percent). The report noted among the nine percent of traditional users, withdrawal was the most popular method (five percent of currently married women). Contraceptive prevalence rates (CPR) increased with the respondent’s age and the number of children that she has. Regarding Turkmenistan’s present standing, Khellenov maintained: "Since independence, the trend of CPR (usage of IUDs, oral pills and injectables), of all women of fertile age, has increased and currently stands at 25.2 percent." The report noted that levels of current use were similar for respondents according to background characteristics. For example, current use was virtually the same for married women in both urban (62 percent) and rural areas (61 percent). Commenting on the availability of contraception methods, Khellenov said it was readily available throughout the country, however in remote rural areas there was a need to improve access. The TDMS maintains, most users of modern methods obtain their contraceptive methods through the public sector (96 percent). About half percent obtained contraceptives from hospitals or public health clinics, 15 percent from women’s consulting centres, and 27 percent from public pharmacies. Regarding fertility preferences, among currently married women 60 percent reported that they want no more children, with 53 percent saying that they simply didn't want any more, and seven percent that they were infertile or that they had been sterilised. However, 32 percent reported that they wanted to have another child, while eight percent were undecided. UNFPA would like to increase access to modern contraceptive techniques in this Central Asian country of five million with the aim of improving the health conditions of women and their families. "For this reason we would like to increase the birth space from one year to 2.5 years," Khellenov explained, adding: "We have succeeded in doing this, but not 100 percent."