Oral contraceptive pills shortage in Lebanon amidst the economic collapse: a nationwide exploratory study
Abstract Background The political instability, economic crisis, and devaluation of the national currency left Lebanese females suffering from a scarcity of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). Therefore, we aimed to identify the incidence of OCPs shortage in Lebanon and its impact on women’s sexual and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09523-3 |
| _version_ | 1797818174676140032 |
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| author | Rania Itani Hani MJ Khojah Samar Karout Rana Abu-Farha Tareq L. Mukattash Deema Rahme Khouloud Housary Hiam El Achi Ali O. Safar Ismail Karam Al Hajj Abdalla El-Lakany |
| author_facet | Rania Itani Hani MJ Khojah Samar Karout Rana Abu-Farha Tareq L. Mukattash Deema Rahme Khouloud Housary Hiam El Achi Ali O. Safar Ismail Karam Al Hajj Abdalla El-Lakany |
| author_sort | Rania Itani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The political instability, economic crisis, and devaluation of the national currency left Lebanese females suffering from a scarcity of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). Therefore, we aimed to identify the incidence of OCPs shortage in Lebanon and its impact on women’s sexual and reproductive health, as well as physical and psychological well-being. Methods Community pharmacies were selected randomly across Lebanon, using a stratified sampling approach, where female clients asking for OCPs were interviewed using a standardized data collection form. Results A total of 440 females were interviewed. More than three-quarters of the participants (76.4%) reported not finding their preferred OCPs brands, almost 40% were affected by the increased prices, and 28.4% declared stockpiling OCPs. More than half of the participants using OCPs for pregnancy prevention reported adopting alternative traditional contraceptive methods (55.3%). Unplanned pregnancy was reported by 9.5% of participants, where 75% of them disclosed intentional abortion while the remaining (25%) reported experiencing a spontaneous miscarriage. Other consequences of OCPs shortage included mood disturbances (52.3%), dysregulation of menses (49.7%), dysmenorrhea (21.1%), weight gain (19.6%), acne (15.7%), and hirsutism (12.5%). Of the participants taking OCPs for birth control, 48.6% reported a reduced frequency of sexual intercourse, which led to conflicts with their partners (46%) and a decreased libido (26.7%). Conclusions OCPs shortage has seriously and negatively exposed women to various undesirable consequences including unplanned pregnancy and dysregulation of menses. Therefore, there is an urgent need to bring the attention of healthcare authorities to support the national pharmaceutical industry in manufacturing affordable OCPs generics to meet women’s reproductive health demands. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:04:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dfdab4e258a548a6b2af4f18a60e31e8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T09:04:06Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-dfdab4e258a548a6b2af4f18a60e31e82023-05-28T11:11:56ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632023-05-0123111010.1186/s12913-023-09523-3Oral contraceptive pills shortage in Lebanon amidst the economic collapse: a nationwide exploratory studyRania Itani0Hani MJ Khojah1Samar Karout2Rana Abu-Farha3Tareq L. Mukattash4Deema Rahme5Khouloud Housary6Hiam El Achi7Ali O. Safar8Ismail Karam Al Hajj9Abdalla El-Lakany10Pharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Riad El SolhDepartment of Clinical and Hospital Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Taibah UniversityPharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Riad El SolhDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Applied Science Private UniversityDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and TechnologyPharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Riad El SolhPharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Riad El SolhPharmacy Practice Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Riad El SolhObstetrics and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beirut Arab University, Riad El SolhInternal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Beirut Arab University, Riad El SolhDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beirut Arab University, Riad El SolhAbstract Background The political instability, economic crisis, and devaluation of the national currency left Lebanese females suffering from a scarcity of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). Therefore, we aimed to identify the incidence of OCPs shortage in Lebanon and its impact on women’s sexual and reproductive health, as well as physical and psychological well-being. Methods Community pharmacies were selected randomly across Lebanon, using a stratified sampling approach, where female clients asking for OCPs were interviewed using a standardized data collection form. Results A total of 440 females were interviewed. More than three-quarters of the participants (76.4%) reported not finding their preferred OCPs brands, almost 40% were affected by the increased prices, and 28.4% declared stockpiling OCPs. More than half of the participants using OCPs for pregnancy prevention reported adopting alternative traditional contraceptive methods (55.3%). Unplanned pregnancy was reported by 9.5% of participants, where 75% of them disclosed intentional abortion while the remaining (25%) reported experiencing a spontaneous miscarriage. Other consequences of OCPs shortage included mood disturbances (52.3%), dysregulation of menses (49.7%), dysmenorrhea (21.1%), weight gain (19.6%), acne (15.7%), and hirsutism (12.5%). Of the participants taking OCPs for birth control, 48.6% reported a reduced frequency of sexual intercourse, which led to conflicts with their partners (46%) and a decreased libido (26.7%). Conclusions OCPs shortage has seriously and negatively exposed women to various undesirable consequences including unplanned pregnancy and dysregulation of menses. Therefore, there is an urgent need to bring the attention of healthcare authorities to support the national pharmaceutical industry in manufacturing affordable OCPs generics to meet women’s reproductive health demands.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09523-3Oral contraceptive pillsContraceptionEconomic crisisWomenReproductive healthAbortion |
| spellingShingle | Rania Itani Hani MJ Khojah Samar Karout Rana Abu-Farha Tareq L. Mukattash Deema Rahme Khouloud Housary Hiam El Achi Ali O. Safar Ismail Karam Al Hajj Abdalla El-Lakany Oral contraceptive pills shortage in Lebanon amidst the economic collapse: a nationwide exploratory study BMC Health Services Research Oral contraceptive pills Contraception Economic crisis Women Reproductive health Abortion |
| title | Oral contraceptive pills shortage in Lebanon amidst the economic collapse: a nationwide exploratory study |
| title_full | Oral contraceptive pills shortage in Lebanon amidst the economic collapse: a nationwide exploratory study |
| title_fullStr | Oral contraceptive pills shortage in Lebanon amidst the economic collapse: a nationwide exploratory study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Oral contraceptive pills shortage in Lebanon amidst the economic collapse: a nationwide exploratory study |
| title_short | Oral contraceptive pills shortage in Lebanon amidst the economic collapse: a nationwide exploratory study |
| title_sort | oral contraceptive pills shortage in lebanon amidst the economic collapse a nationwide exploratory study |
| topic | Oral contraceptive pills Contraception Economic crisis Women Reproductive health Abortion |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09523-3 |
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