Contraceptive methods of Lodz women of reproductive age

It is estimated that currently about 60% of women all over the world regularly use various methods of contraception. Poland is said to be one of the countries where natural methods of contraception are the most common. Those methods are evaluated as the least reliable. This research has been performed to present the methods of family planning of the female residents of Lodz. The research that was carried out concerned social and economic backgrounds (the survey aimed to find out whether there are any age, education, income or religious influences on the different kinds of contraceptive methods they use). The authors’ questionnaire, which dealt with family planning issues, was conducted on women patients of certain health care centres in Lodz. The authors’ questionnaire (it mainly considered gender and age) was prepared for 400 women of reproductive age 15-49. To analyse the data the SPSS program was used. Any correlation found was validated using χ² test. The results show that the most popular methods are condoms, oral contraceptives and coitus interruptus. The least common methods are: IUD, the symptothermal method and spermicides. The only factor which has a real impact on family planning of the women appears to be age (which correlates weakly with membership of social groups). Modern contraceptives are used more willingly by younger women, especially students, whereas traditional methods are used by older ones. Education level as well as religious outlook and income level did not influence contraception issues.