Effective postpartum contraceptive methods can reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy and short interbirth intervals. The need for an additional postpartum visit can be a barrier to women accessing intrauterine contraception after childbirth. Immediate PPIUC provision is safe but is not routinely available. Establishing this service requires multidisciplinary support, including from community and maternity stakeholders. Researchers did this study to determine the views of community sexual health providers towards PPIUC implementation.
Two hundred and forty questionnaires were distributed, 156 were completed by participants. Some 128 respondents felt ‘positive’ towards the PPIUC implementation. Most respondents indicated they would be happy to promote PPIUC and provide thread checks. Perceived challenges in providing PPIUC aftercare included staff time, experience in managing clinical issues, and access to ultrasound.
The study concluded community sexual health providers were positive towards PPIUC implementation and perceived their role predominantly in women’s aftercare. Several clinical and practical challenges were identified, some of which differ from those previously expressed by other groups. Stakeholder involvement is key to the successful implementation of PPIUC, and broader recognition of potential barriers can help develop strategies to overcome these.
Reference: https://srh.bmj.com/content/44/2/97
