Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Jason B. Smith, PhD, MPH¹, Erin McGinn, MA¹, Roy Jacobstein, MD, MPH², and B. Ndugga Maggwa, MD, MSc¹. (1) Field, Information, and Training Services, Family Health International, P.O. Box 13950, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 9195447040 x479, jbsmith@fhi.org, (2) The Acquire Project, EngenderHealth, 440 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10001

Diffusion Theory (Rogers) provides a framework for analyzing/diffusing health interventions to populations. Typically, descriptions of diffusion contain three principal components 1)Perceptions of the innovation 2)Characteristics of adopters and 3)Contextual factors. While all components are important, the literature shows that perceptions in terms of benefit, compatibility, simplicity, “trialability” and observability account for the majority of variance associated with adoption and suggests itself as a primary focus. Modern IUD design began in the early 1900s. By the 1960s, IUDs were an established component of modern method mix in many countries. However, negative perceptions, often safety-related, persist and these perceptions, combined with increasing use of pills and injectables, has led to a dramatic decline in IUD use in many countries. Today, safe and effective IUDs are available and could improve women's options for high quality, low cost protection if acceptability could be improved. Public health impact of IUD revitalization would be greatest in countries that have relatively high fertility and mortality rates. This presentation analyzes perceptions of the IUD from the perspective of three critical adopter groups - policymakers, providers and potential users - to identify factors that could promote positive perceptions of the product and negative perceptions that might be suitable for mitigation efforts. Data and field experiences from FHI and EngenderHealth efforts in Kenya will illustrate situations where negative perceptions resulted in barriers to programmatic progress and where mitigation of perceptions, in line with the diffusion analysis, resulted in opportunities for success. Key lessons learned will be incorporated into the presentation.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

1)Describe the use of Diffusion Theory as a framework for analyzing a health promotion effort. 2)Articulate, briefly, the history of the IUD with emphasis on conditions related to current low levels of use in many developing countries. 3)Discuss, using real world, developing country experiences, how perceptions of the IUD among key potential adopter groups can either facilitate or hinder adoption of the method.
• List at least 3 recommended best practices for policy/program success in promoting IUD use in low resource settings.

Keywords: Reproductive Health, Health Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered