2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

318877
EC4U: Results from a Pilot Project to Integrate the Copper IUC into Emergency Contraceptive Care


Wednesday, November 4, 2015 : 8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.

Julia Kohn, PhD MPA, Research and CQI Department, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, New York, NY
Deborah Nucatola, MD, Medical Services Department, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, New York, NY
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Objectives  The copper intrauterine contraceptive (IUC) is the most effective method of emergency contraception (EC). If inserted within five days after unprotected intercourse, it is 99.9% effective and can provide ongoing contraception for up to 12 years. Yet this practice is underutilized, perhaps due to provider knowledge, attitudes, or systems barriers. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of a pilot project to integrate and increase provision of the Copper IUC as EC.

Methods  Nine geographically diverse family planning centers implemented six-month pilot projects to fully integrate the Copper IUC into EC care. All sites reported monthly on the number of clients receiving each EC method. Retrospective data on IUC insertions for EC were reported for the six months preceding the pilot.

Results  There were a total of 101 IUCs inserted for EC during the six-month pilot period compared to 20 during the preceding six months — a 395% increase; 77% were same-day insertions. The percentage of EC clients choosing IUC was highly varied by site, ranging from 1–16% (mean=7%). At five months post-pilot, 20 clients had returned for IUC removal.

Conclusions  The increase in the number of IUC insertions for EC during the pilot period reinforces that IUCs are a feasible option for EC clients. Findings demonstrate that some clients will be interested in IUC for EC, and therefore all clients should be offered this option. Training and systems improvements may be necessary to ensure that patients can receive the IUC for EC within the five-day window of efficacy.

Learning Areas:

Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the findings of the EC4U pilot project evaluation. Identify barriers and facilitators to increasing the use of Copper IUC as EC.

Keyword(s): Contraception, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: This presentation will discuss off-label use of the Copper IUC for emergency contraception.

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the National Director of Research for Planned Parenthood Federation of America and was the evaluator for this pilot project. I have over 10 years of experience in applied research and evaluation in reproductive health.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 5070.0: Emergency contraception