Early Discontinuation Rate Of Contraceptive Implants Among Women Of Reproductive Age At Buriram Hospital And Associated Factors.
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Contraceptive implants are highly effective, yet users often discontinue usage prematurely due to side effects such as abnormal bleeding or insertion site pain, as well as age and the desire for pregnancy. Investigating these factors in Buriram Hospital is crucial for developing appropriate, targeted healthcare services.
Objective: To determine the continuation rate of contraceptive implants and analyze factors associated with premature discontinuation before the 3-year completion among women of reproductive age who requested implant removal at Buriram Hospital.
Methods: This retrospective analytic study included all clients who underwent 3-year contraceptive implant removal at the Family Planning Clinic, Buriram Hospital in 2024. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, and associations were evaluated using Chi-square, Fisher's Exact Test, and Logistic regression (p< 0.05).
Results: Of the 328 clients who requested implant removal at Buriram Hospital in 2024, 91 discontinued prematurely, with 47 individuals (51.7%) being under 20 years old. Age was significantly associated with premature discontinuation (OR 0.874 95% CI: 0.808 – 0.946; p < 0.05), with younger age being the strongest predictor. Associated factors included side effects such as abnormal bleeding (39.6%) and insertion site pain (24.2%). Adolescents primarily discontinued due to physical adverse effects, whereas adults frequently requested removal to become pregnant.
Conclusion: Age is the most significant factor associated with premature discontinuation of contraceptive implants, with adolescents identified as a high-risk group. The hospital should prioritize counseling and close follow-ups, along with managing early side effects, to improve the continuation rate of contraceptive implant usage.
Article Details

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Festin MPR. Overview of modern contraception. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2020;66:4–14.
Mäkäräinen L, Tuomivaara L, Asplund B, Coelingh Bennink H. Ovarian function during the use of a single contraceptive implant: Implanon compared with Norplant. Fertil Steril 1998;70:714–21.
Girum T, Wasie A. Return of fertility after discontinuation of contraception: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Contracept Reprod Med 2018;3:6.
Tin KN, Maung TM, Win T. Factors that affect the discontinuation of family planning methods in Myanmar: analysis of the 2015–16 Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey. Contracept Reprod Med 2020;5:24.
Glasier A. Implantable contraceptives for women: effectiveness, discontinuation rates, return of fertility, and outcome of pregnancies. Contraception 2002;65:29–37.
Parkpinyo N, Panichyawat N, Sirimai K. Three-Year Continuation Rate of Etonogestrel Subdermal Implant and Associated Factors. J Med Assoc Thai 2019;102:657–62.
Jaisamrarn U, Santipap M, Santibenchakul S. Discontinuation rates of different contraceptive methods in Thai women up to 1-year after method initiation. Sci Rep 2021;11:23258.
Jaisamrarn U, Santipap M, Santibenchakul S. Discontinuation of Different Contraceptive Methods in Thai Women During a One-year Period: A Cohort Study. Res Sq [Preprint] 2020. doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-120556/v1
Parkpinyo N, Panichyawat N, Sirimai K. Early Removal of the Etonogestrel Contraceptive Implant and Associated Factors Among Users at the Urban Family Planning Clinic in Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Siriraj Med J 2021;73:399–405.
Sappan R, Wattanakamolchai P, Werawatakul Y, Sothornwit J. Discontinuation of Contraceptive Implants within 12 Months of Use. Thai J Obstet Gynaecol 2021;29:198–207.
Gmedhin T, Gebrekidan KG, Nerea MK, Gerezgiher H, Haftu M. Early Implanon discontinuation rate and its associated factors in health institutions of Mekelle City, Tigray, Ethiopia 2016/17. BMC Res Notes 2019;12:12
Melkamu Asaye M, Syoum Nigussie T, Mequannt Ambaw W. Early Implanon Discontinuation and Associated Factors among Implanon User Women in Debre Tabor Town, Public Health Facilities, Northwest Ethiopia, 2016. Int J Reprod Med 2018;2018:3523847.
Moray KV, Chaurasia H, Sachin O, Joshi B. A systematic review on clinical effectiveness, side-effect profile and meta-analysis on continuation rate of etonogestrel contraceptive implant. Reprod Health 2021;18:9.
Ssebatta G, Kaye DK, Mbalinda SN. Early contraceptive implants removal and its associated factors among women using implants at a National Referral Hospital, Kampala Uganda. BMC Womens Health 2021;21:281.
Thamkhantho M, Jivasak-Apimas S, Angsuwathana S, Chiravacharadej G, Ba JI. One-Year Assessment of Women Receiving Sub-Dermal Contraceptive Implant at Siriraj Family Planning Clinic. J Med Assoc Thai 2008;91:775–80.
Bahamondes L, Brache V, Meirik O, Ali M, Habib N, Landoulsi S, et al. A 3-year multicentre randomized controlled trial of etonogestrel- and levonorgestrel-releasing contraceptive implants, with non-randomized matched copper-intrauterine device controls. Hum Reprod 2015;30:2527–38.