Epidemiological studies for oral contraceptive pills prescription pattern, its efficacy and side effects in a South Delhi teaching hospital

Abstract

The objective of this study is to review the prescription pattern of oral contraceptive pills along with the drug utilization evaluation of oral contraceptives and to monitor their adverse drug reaction. The study was prospective, qualitative and questionnaire based. It was conducted for duration of 4 months, at gynecology OPD at Hakeem Abdul Hameed Centenary (HAHC), Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, INDIA. Subjects in the form of 90 female participants of age 18-45 years were gathered on the belief of exclusion and inclusion criteria enduring contraceptive for the period of a month. A series of short questions emphasizing on types of oral contraceptives, their uses, and awareness of the health benefits as well as the risks were observed and assessed. Majority if the questions neces- sitate a tick box (yes/no) answer only. Mala-D was remarkably the most prescribed oral contraceptive and was chiefly utilized for birth control. Out of 90 participants 73% women took their pill at the same and invariable time while 23% missed a pill during the cycle. Intermittent bleeding and nausea were reported by 52% of the subjects and 40% of them experienced common side effects during administration of oral contraceptive. It is witnessed that literacy was not associated with OC use knowledge or compliance. From this prospective study, it is concluded that Mala-D was the most prescribed OC. The results of the current study signifies that the women were relatively cognizant regarding OC use, their benefits along with the risks, ADRs and acquit able steps to be followed for missed pills. The awareness about the significance of OC use in the participants was relatively on the greater side independent of the level of education. The rationale use of the OCs can be further upgradable through concrete counseling of women by health care provider staff. However, these finding are pilot study level observations and further research is worthwhile and can be used for large scale intervention study.