Knowledge of the Benefits and Risks of Oral Contraceptive Use Among Women of Reproductive Age in Western Saudi Arabia: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: For women of reproductive age, oral contraceptives (OCs) are a well-liked and practical way to control pregnancy. OCs are also used to treat acne, irregular uterine bleeding, and premenstrual syndrome. However, there are false beliefs regarding their benefits and risks. The primary health benefits of OCs are the reduction of acne, the risk of colon, ovarian, and endometrial cancer, and the risk of osteoporosis. Other benefits include the reduction of the risk of endometriosis, fibroid tumors, menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, benign breast illness, and ovarian cysts. The objective of this study was to assess the level of awareness among women of reproductive age in western Saudi Arabia regarding the benefits and risks of OCs.

Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was used to gather data from women aged 15-49 in western Saudi Arabia. The study used an online questionnaire designed using Google Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, California, United States) that was distributed electronically via social media apps in Arabic language. Data was collected in Excel sheets (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington, United States) and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0 (Released 2012; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States). After determining our study population, we calculated the sample size using OpenEpi version 3.0.

Results: A total of 588 Saudi women participated in the study and revealed that only 13.6% had an excellent understanding of OCs. The primary sources of information about oral contraceptives were friends and relatives (n=268, 45.6%), followed closely by physicians (n=255, 43.5%). Other sources included reading reliable materials, social media, and personal experience. The sources of information were strongly linked to the participants' knowledge levels. Among those who sourced their information from reading reliable sources, 25.1% (n=42) exhibited good overall knowledge, while 22% (n=27) of those who relied on social media, 16% (n=41) of those who were informed by their physician, and only 3.2% (n=1) of those without any information source demonstrated a similar level of understanding.

Conclusions: The study highlights a lack of knowledge among reproductive-age women in western Saudi Arabia about the benefits and risks of OCs. It underscores the need for targeted educational initiatives to enhance awareness and understanding. By improving knowledge, healthcare providers can empower women to make informed decisions about their reproductive health. Ongoing research and advocacy are essential to ensure access to accurate information and support, ultimately aiming for better reproductive health outcomes in the region.