• Matthew Anyanwu and Bom Wekye Ndam Alida.
• Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Banjul The Gambia.
• Afr Health Sci. 2017 Jun 1; 17 (2): 409417409-417.

BackgroundThe contraceptive method has become an essential factor in the life of most women of reproductive age group; although it varies in different stages of their life course. The use of long acting reversible methods (LARC) is proposed as a strategy to reverse undesirable maternal health consequences in developing countries.ObjectiveTo determine the uptake of long-acting reversible contraceptive in The Gambia.MethodsA community based cross-sectional study of women attending family planning clinic were studied using intervieweradministered questionnaire which included information on socio-demographic factors, reproductive health and contraceptive use of the participants.ResultsAbout 89 % of study participants used long acting reversible contraceptive methods. Of the three commonly available long acting reversible contraceptive methods, Depo Provera was the most commonly used method; 78 of 141 (55.32%); followed by implants (43.3%) and intrauterine contraceptive (1.42%). Being housewives, with 3-4 living children and having secondary level education were associated with high uptake of LARC.ConclusionThe uptake of long acting reversible contraceptive was high; with Depo Provera as the most commonly used contraceptive method in The Gambia. There seemed to be an increase in the uptake of implants; with intrauterine contraceptive device being the least commonly used method.

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