The evaluation of female patients admitted to Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, family medicine department reproductive health / family planning (RH / FP) clinic

The aim of this study is to evaluate the characteristics and types of health care services received by females who presented to Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Family Practice Department Reproductive Health / Family Planning (RH / FP) Clinic. The list of females who presented to the Family Practice Department RH/FP Clinic between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2014 was scanned from clinic register book. Each woman's age, educational background, diagnosis, and family planning methods were collected retrospectively. A total of 2591 females presented to RH/FP Clinic during the study's date range. The average age was 38±20 years old. In total, 52.64% were given some form of contraceptive. The rest of them (47.36%) presented for check out or due to a complaint. Only 0.38% of the women were under 20 years old, while 30.30% were between 20-29 years old, 36.90% were between 30-39 years old, and 24.98% were between 40-49 years old. Finally, 7.44% were over 50 years old. The preferred contraceptive was oral contraceptive pills among females in all age ranges, requested by 42.89% of them. The percentages for each contraceptive method according to educational background were 34.6%, 45.4%, 17.7%, 2.3% among college/university graduates; 20.2%, 38.5%, 41.3%, 0% among high school graduates; and 30.4%, 40.3%, 28.4%, 0.9% among graduates of primary school grade level 1 and 2 for intra-uterine devices intra-uterine devices, oral contraceptive pills, condom, and injectable hormonal contraceptives, respectively. The most common reasons for women to present to the RH/FP Clinic other than contraceptive demand were complaints related to urogenital system, follow-up counseling after using a contraceptive, complaints related to menopause, and cervical cancer screening. The preferred contraceptive of females presenting to our clinic was oral contraceptive pills, used by 42.89%. Educational background has an effect on the choice of contraceptive. Injectable hormonal contraceptives was the least preferred method with 0.73%, but it was preferred more in college and university graduates compared to primary school and high school graduates. The presence of the RH/FP Clinic in the Family Practice Department helps researchers to consolidate what they learn during the Obstetrics and Gynecology rotation and provides FP services that are perceived to be a part of Family Practice medicine