EVALUATING THE ELIGIBILITY OF THE CONTRACEPTIVE METHODS USED BY HYPERTENSIVE WOMEN, IN A PRIMARY CARE HEALTH CENTER

Introduction and Objective: Contraceptive counseling requires an integration of the women’s medical conditions with their needs and expectations. We often need to prescribe contraception in women with comorbidities that restrict the available choices. This study aims to evaluate the quality of contraceptive’s prescription to hypertensive women, in a primary care health center, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use. Methods: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study, accomplished in December 2015, through the consultation of clinical processes. All the hypertensive women in reproductive age, using reversible contraception and followed in the family planning program were included (n=99). Studied variables: age; body mass index; smoking habits; blood pressure; used contraceptive; medical conditions that interfere with contraception; categorization according to WHO eligibility criteria for contraception (categories 1, 2, 3, 4). Results and conclusions: Ninety Nine women with 45.56±7.3 years of age; 14.1% smokers; 42.4% with obesity; 17.2% with last recorded systolic pressure >160mmHg or diastolic pressure >100mmHg; 7.1% with diabetes and 5.1% with valvular heart disease. The most used contraceptives were combined oral contraceptives (43.4%) and progestogen-only pill (10.1%). Approximately 98% of the women had two or more comorbidities that could interfere with some contraceptives. Considering the cardiovascular risk, 44.6% used contraceptives that were not recommended (category 3/4), of these 37.8% were contraindicated (category 4). In conclusion, 17.2% of the hypertensive women used a contraceptive that was contraindicated. As a result, it is essential to perform periodic reviews of the medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive in risk populations.