IUDs as EC? Limited awareness and high reported acceptability: evidence from Argentina

Margaret Pichardo; Lia Arribas; Elina Coccio; Graciela Heredia; Sherani Jagroep; Tia Palermo

doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2014.05.012

IUDs as EC? Limited awareness and high reported acceptability: evidence from Argentina

Contraception. 2014 Nov;90(5):522-8. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2014.05.012. Epub 2014 May 24.

Authors

Margaret Pichardo¹, Lia Arribas², Elina Coccio², Graciela Heredia², Sherani Jagroep³, Tia Palermo⁴

Affiliations

¹ Program in Public Health, Stony Brook University (State University of New York), Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA.
² Department of Gynecology, Rivadavia Hospital, Buenos Aires Ministry of Health, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
³ Physicians for Reproductive Health (work was conducted while at Stony Brook University), New York, NY 10018-3889, USA.
⁴ Program in Public Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University (State University of New York), Stony Brook, NY 11790, USA. Electronic address: tia.palermo@stonybrook.edu.

PMID: 24973905
DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2014.05.012

Abstract

Background: We explored knowledge and attitudes regarding the copper intrauterine device (IUD) as emergency contraception (EC) among women in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Study design: We interviewed a convenience sample of women attending a family planning center at a public hospital. Participants were asked about knowledge and use of contraceptives, including EC (pre-script). Then they were given information about the IUD as EC and subsequently asked about acceptability of using the copper IUD as EC (post-script), the primary outcome in this analysis.

Results: We analyzed data on 273 women. While only 1.83% of participants knew the IUD served as EC at baseline, 79.85% said they would be willing to use the device as such if the need arose after given relevant information. Multivariate results from a pre-script revealed that women with low levels of education and those born outside of Argentina were less knowledgeable about EC pills. Only previous use of the IUD was associated with high levels of IUD knowledge. Post-script, results indicated that being Argentine [odds ratio (OR)=2.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21, 3.81] and previous IUD use (OR=2.12, 95% CI=1.07, 4.19) were positively associated with considering the IUD as EC. Nulliparity was negatively associated with willingness to use the IUD as EC (OR=0.44, 95% CI 0.22, 0.86).

Conclusion: We examined acceptability of the copper IUD as EC in a Latin American setting and found that, while prior levels of knowledg'e were low, acceptability of the IUD as EC was high. Implications for programming and policy include outreach and education regarding this highly effective method and advocacy to change existing regulations in Argentina prohibiting the use of IUD as EC.

Implications: After given information about the IUD as a method of EC, women interviewed said they would be willing to use the IUD EC despite their limited prior knowledge of this method. With more widespread information and availability of the IUD as EC, more women may opt for this highly effective method, which can provide additional protection against unwanted pregnancy for up to 10 years.

Keywords: Argentina; Emergency contraception; IUD; Latin America.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Argentina
Contraception, Postcoital*
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Humans
Intrauterine Devices, Copper*
Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult