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Table 2 Oral contraceptive pills usage and their availability in the community pharmacies (N = 440)

From: Oral contraceptive pills shortage in Lebanon amidst the economic collapse: a nationwide exploratory study

Item

n (%)

Usual OCPs being used by the participants

 

 Ethinylestradiol/drospirenone

209 (47.6)

 Ethinylestradiol/cyproterone acetate

70 (16)

 Ethinylestradiol/levonorgestrel

42 (9.6)

 Ethinylestradiol/desogestrel)

41 (9.3)

 Dydrogesterone

30 (6.8)

 Norethindrone

25 (5.6)

 Ethinylestradiol/dienogest

9 (2)

 Desogestrel

7 (1.6)

 Progesterone

5 (1.1)

 Norgestrel/estradiol)

2 (0.4)

Indication

 

 Contraception (birth control)

177 (40.5)

 Period regulation

116 (26.1)

 Polycystic ovarian syndrome

96 (21.8)

 Primary dysmenorrhea

7 (1.6)

 Endometriosis

7 (1.6)

 Others

37 (8.4)

Duration of administration

 

 Intermittently

25 (5.7)

 ≤ 3 months

104 (23.6)

 > 3 months to ≤ 6 months

65 (14.7)

 > 6 months to ≤ 1 year

72 (16.3)

 > 1 year to ≤ 2 years

39 (8.9)

 > 2 years to ≤ 3 years

21 (4.8)

 > 3 years

114 (26)

Stockpiling behavior of preferred brands during the shortage period

 

 No

315 (71.6)

 Yes

125 (28.4)

Availability of preferred brands in the pharmacies

 

 No

336 (76.4)

 Yes

104 (23.6)

Duration of unavailability of preferred brands in the pharmacies (n = 336)

 

  ≤ 3 months

110 (32.7)

 > 3 months to 6 months

125 (37.2)

 > 6 months to < 1 year

57 (17)

  ≥ 1 year

44 (13.1)