The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #47585

Claudia Patricia Velasquez, MPH and James N. Gribble, ScD. Institute for Reproductive Health, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 3800 Reservoir Rd. NW, 3PHC Room 3004, Washington, DC 20007, 202-687-4377, cv38@georgetown.edu

Reproductive health programs recognize the importance of dual protection, but have difficulty implementing successful strategies and often do nothing more than pay lip service to the issue. CEMOPLAF, a family planning organization in Ecuador, has begun to incorporate dual protection into counseling. To determine the impact of the dual protection message on clients’ behaviors, we are conducting a study in which new acceptors of four methods of family planning—pills, IUD, injection, and Standard Days Method are followed up after one month.

Preliminary data indicate that use of condoms in conjunction with other family planning methods is relatively low—approximately 16%. However, when examining the frequency of dual method use by the primary family planning method that is used, results indicate that 100% of dual protection is associated with the use of the SDM. Why is that the case? Women who did use condoms with the SDM were using them to prevent pregnancy. Regardless of their motive for using condoms, these women were also reducing their risk of STIs. Women who did not practice dual protection indicated that their contraceptive method was sufficient to avoid pregnancy and had no need for a back up method; they had no concerns about STI prevention.

Because counseling for the SDM explicitly includes condom use, clients actively learn about their importance. For dual method use to be successful with other methods, counseling will need to address condom use more directly.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to

(
• recognize use of dual protection by primary family planning method used; (2)articulate reasons why women report using dual method use; and (3)identify programmatic implications for improving dual method use among clients.

Keywords: Family Planning, STD Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: CEMOPLAF, a family planning organization in Ecuador, services will be discussed during this presentation.
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.