Dinâmica contraceptiva das mulheres usuárias do Sistema Único de Saúde de Belo Horizonte

Abstract

Introduction: Reproductive planning is a fundamental right of women and an essential component of public health, as it impacts gender equity, quality of life, and the reduction of unplanned pregnancies. In Brazil, although most women use some contraceptive method, discontinuation of use is frequent, being influenced by factors such as adverse effects, lack of information, difficulties in access, and socioeconomic inequalities. Other dimensions of inequalities also influence this scenario, such as racial, territorial, and educational disparities. Objective: To describe the contraceptive dynamics of women in Belo Horizonte before discovering pregnancy and the contraceptive practices adopted in reproductive planning. Methodology: This is a longitudinal and descriptive study with a quantitative approach. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire applied to women between 18 and 49 years old, users of the Primary Care network of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Sociodemographic variables and the contraceptive dynamics of the research participants were analyzed. The sample was calculated considering data from IBGE (2010) and SINASC (2015). The chi-square test was used to compare groups. All statistical analyses were conducted using STATA software, version 14.0. Results: The findings indicate that, although 80.5% of women had used some contraceptive method in the last 12 months, a significant portion of pregnancies were unplanned. Oral contraceptives were the most used, but they had a high discontinuation rate due to adverse effects and dissatisfaction. In addition, it was observed that socioeconomic factors and limited access to information negatively impact adherence and method choice. Conclusion: The lack of full knowledge about reproductive planning, combined with barriers to access and dissatisfaction with the methods used, contributes to the discontinuation of contraceptive use and unplanned pregnancies. The results reinforce the need for public policies aimed at expanding reproductive education and strengthening health services aimed at women's health