The Importance of Community Midwives for Delivery of Family Planning Services in Pakistan

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study is to present contraception usage in Koohi Goth Women’s Hospital and to highlight the leading role of midwives in effectively counseling patients to use modern methods of contraception, consequently, working towards sustainable development goals.

Methodology: It is a cross-sectional study conducted at Koohi Goth Women’s Hospital, Landhi, Karachi from January to July 2022. All women of childbearing age who were counseled for and received contraception were included in the study.

Results: The most common contraceptive method of choice was long-term contraception with an intra-uterine copper device with an average insertion rate of 57.1% per delivery. 2nd most common method of choice was condoms for men and contraceptive surgery (bilateral tubal ligation) for women. This is far more than the overall contraceptive prevalence rate (34%) in Pakistan.

Conclusion: Midwives can play an essential and leading role in promoting contraceptive use, play a role in working effectively towards sustainable development goals, and minimize unmet needs for family planning.