Contraceptive use empowers couples and individuals to decide when and how many children to have. Its increasing adoption has led to improved health outcomes and has also positively impacted education and economic opportunities, particularly for women. However, contraceptive decision-making can be complex. Women who choose methods that do not align with their preferences may be less likely to continue using them. To enhance the effectiveness and adherence to contraceptive methods, it is essential to understand the factors influencing women’s choices and the reasons they start or stop using specific methods. This study aimed to identify those factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Basra City and included 403 married women of reproductive age (15–49 years) who visited primary health care centers for various reasons, such as medical or gynecological issues, or their child’s health or vaccination. The study was conducted over six months, from January to June 2018, with data collection taking place from January 1st to February 28th, and data analysis from March to June. The results showed that the most commonly used contraceptive method was coitus interruptus (33.3%), followed by combined oral contraceptive pills (28%). Mirena was the least used (0.5%). Most users were aged 30–39 years (41.9%), and the majority were housewives (73.9%) with higher education levels (26.6%). The most common parity among users was para three (23.6%). Most women used contraception for spacing between pregnancies (49.1%) and were influenced by advice from family or friends (49.1%). The most important factor when choosing a method was safety. The most common reason for discontinuing a method was side effects (60.1%), particularly irregular bleeding (24.8%), mood changes (16.6%), cramping (11.5%), weight gain (9.6%), and allergic reactions (3.8%). In conclusion, there was a significant association between the type of contraceptive used and sociodemographic factors, parity, fertility intentions, source of information, and perceived attributes of the method. However, age at first marriage, history of abortion, and unplanned pregnancy were not significantly associated. It is recommended that both partners be involved in contraceptive counseling to help select the most appropriate method.

Index Terms: Contraceptive methods, women's health, fertility intention, reproductive age, Basra