The Use of Family Planning Methods and the Methods Used in Turkey: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted to determine the use of family planning methods and the rates of the methods used based on previous studies in Turkey.
METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis study was based on primary studies planned in a descriptive and cross-sectional design. To reach the studies, PubMed, Science Direct, Dergipark, Turkish Clinics, and National Thesis Center databases were systematically searched with keywords “family planning” and “contraceptive” in October 2019. The search, selection of articles, data extraction, and quality assessment procedures were conducted by two authors independently, and all these steps were checked by an experienced researcher. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies was used to assess the quality of the studies.
RESULTS: The results of 43 studies, including 28 with cross-sectional and 15 with descriptive design, were synthesized for the meta-analysis (females: 24 548; males: 2218). According to the results of the meta-analysis, the estimated rate of family planning methods was 71% (95% CI: 0.66-0.77) for any methods, 50% (95% CI: 0.44-0.55) for modern methods, and 17% (95% CI: 0.14-0.20) for traditional methods. Also, the estimated rate of the most commonly used modern methods were 17% (95% CI: 0.14-0.20) for intrauterine device use, 17% (95% CI: 0.14-0.20) for condom use, 6% (95% CI: 0.05-0.08) for the use of oral contraceptives, while the rate was 15% (95% CI: 0.13-0.18) for the most commonly used conventional method (withdrawal). In addition, it was determined that while the use of modern methods increased over years (from 47% to 52%), the use of traditional methods decreased (from 19% to 15%) and varied by region. The estimated rate of unintended pregnancy was 20%, and the rate was 10% for curettage.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: According to the results of this systematic review and meta-analysis, although the use of modern family planning methods has increased over years in Turkey, it is still not high enough, and a significant part of women experience unintended pregnancies and curettage.