The contraception during the quarantine: Current situation and groups more vulnerable to unplanned pregnancies during this period

© 2018 Ediciones Mayo, S.A. All rights reserved. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of resumption of sexual intercourse (SI) among puerperal women before 6 weeks postpartum, how many do not use adequate contraception and their characteristics. Subjects, material and method: Cross-sectional study of data collected from women in the control group of the MAYA study that was conducted at 20 centres in Catalonia (Spain) in order to analyze the long-term effectiveness of an additional postpartum contraceptive counselling program (intervention group, 10 centres) vs. standard clinical practice (control group, 10 centres). The data was collected by midwives at week 30 of pregnancy and at week 6 postpartum. Not using any contraception or using the withdrawal method was considered «inadequate contraception». Results: 428 women aged 32 ± 5.1 years were analyzed. 32.9% (n= 141) had resumed SI before 6 weeks postpartum, with 20% (n= 28) using inadequate contraception. Women aged <30 years and those who formula fed vs. those who mixed- or breastfed were most likely to resume SI during the 6-week postpartum period. Compared to Spanish women, foreigners, those with lower education levels or who mixed fed instead of formula feeding or breastfeeding were more likely to use in. adequate contraception. Women who were unemployed or who had not planned pregnancy expressed both behaviours. Conclusions: One woman in three resumes sexual intercourse before the end of the 6-week postpartum period and of these, one in five uses inadequate contraception. This study identifies the characteristics of women who may be especially vulnerable to unintended pregnancy.