Ricardo Vernon, PhD, FRONTIERS Program, Population Council, Panzacola 62 - 102, Col. Villa Coyoacán, Mexico City, 04000, Mexico, (52)(55) 5999-8650, rvernon@popcouncil.org.mx, Edwin E. Montufar, Dr, APROVIME, Asociación Pro Salud Preventiva para la Mujer, Vivamos Mejor, 6a Calle 1-36, Ed. Balzari Of. 402, Guatemala, Zona 10, Guatemala, and Carlos Brambila, PhD, Mexico Office, Population Council, Panzacola 62, Col. Villa Coyoacán, Mexico City, 04000, Mexico.

The general objective of this project was to test if appropriate and cost-effective IUD insertion and removal services could be provided in rural Ministry of Health’s (MOH) health centers and posts in Guatemala.A total of 52 service providers (15 nurses and 37 nurse auxiliaries) were selected for training. Of these, 45 (13 nurses and 32 nurse auxiliaries) were certified to provide quality IUD services after conducting five supervised insertions, a 90% training completion rate. During the project, 389 women expressed interest in using IUDs, but only 301 met the eligibility criteria to use the method. The most common counter-indication were vaginal flow and other symptoms of STIs. No cervical lacerations, perforations, infections or post-insertion infections were identified. The expulsion rate was estimated at 1/301. Critical training components were identified, including the need for strong training in management of STIs, decontamination procedures and, very important, implementing IEC activities to inform community inhabitants about the new availability of the method.

Learning Objectives:

• Review one strategy to train nurses and nurse auxiliaries working in rural areas on IUD insertion techniques;
• to learn the main components that need to be included while training paramedical personnel in rural areas of less developed countries on IUD insertions;
• To learn performance standards for providing IUD services of newly trained personnel.

Keywords: Access, Family Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.