Awareness, Preferences, and Reported Side Effects of Contraception Among Women in Najaf City: A Cross-Sectional Study

Alraya Mohammed Abdali, Shamim Riadh Mohammed Hussein, Amal Abdul Mahdi Kadhim

Abstract: Background: Contraception is a key component of reproductive health care. Although awareness of contraceptive methods in Iraq is generally high, traditional methods remain widely used, and city-specific data from Najaf are limited. Objectives: To assess awareness, contraceptive preferences, reported side effects, and perceptions of counseling adequacy among women in Najaf City. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an Arabic electronic self-administered questionnaire distributed to women living in Najaf City. A total of 419 valid responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Mean participant age was 29.4 ± 6.9 years. Awareness of contraceptive methods was high (91.6%). Current contraceptive use was reported by 59.7% of respondents. Withdrawal was the most commonly used method (34.4%), followed by oral contraceptive pills (25.6%) and condoms (20.0%). Only 44.2% considered contraception safe. Among current users, 35.6% reported side effects, most commonly menstrual irregularities and weight gain. More than half (53.9%) perceived family planning counseling at primary health care centers as inadequate. Conclusions: High awareness does not translate into optimal use of effective modern contraceptive methods in Najaf. Safety concerns and perceived inadequate counseling may contribute to reliance on less effective methods.

Keywords: contraceptive use, family planning, reproductive health, women of reproductive age, contraceptive counseling, Iraq, cross-sectional study

How to Cite?: Alraya Mohammed Abdali, Shamim Riadh Mohammed Hussein, Amal Abdul Mahdi Kadhim, "Awareness, Preferences, and Reported Side Effects of Contraception Among Women in Najaf City: A Cross-Sectional Study", Volume 15 Issue 5, May 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 889-894, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26511173628, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26511173628

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