Confidence and readiness to discuss, plan and implement postpartum contraception during prenatal care versus after delivery

A Scoping Review of Patient-Centered Perinatal Contraceptive Counseling

INTRODUCTION

Contraceptive counseling during the perinatal period is an important component of comprehensive perinatal care. We synthesized research about contraceptive counseling during the perinatal period, which has not previously been systematically compiled.

METHODS

We developed search criteria to identify articles listed in PubMed, Embase, and Popline databases published between 1992 and July 2022 that address patients' preferences for, and experiences of, perinatal contraceptive counseling, as well as health outcomes associated with this counseling. Search results were independently reviewed by multiple reviewers to assess relevance for the present review. Methods were conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines.

RESULTS

Thirty-four articles were included in the final full text review. Of the included articles, 10 included implementation and evaluation of a contraceptive counseling method or protocol, and 24 evaluated preferences for or experiences of existing contraceptive counseling in the perinatal period. Common themes included the acceptability of contraceptive counseling in the peripartum and postpartum periods, and a preference for contraceptive counseling at some point during the antenatal period and before the inpatient hospital experience, and direct provider-patient discussion instead of video or written material. Multiple studies suggest that timing, content, and modality should be individualized. In general, avoiding actual or perceived directiveness and providing multi-modal counseling that includes both written educational materials and patient-provider conversations was desired.

DISCUSSION

The perinatal period constitutes a critical opportunity to provide contraceptive counseling that can support pregnant and postpartum people's management of their reproductive futures. The reviewed studies highlight the importance of patient-centered approach to providing this care, including flexibility of timing, content, and modality to accommodate individual preferences.

Early Resumption of Sexual Intercourse after First Childbirth and Unintended Pregnancy within Six Months

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate factors associated with early resumption of sexual intercourse after first childbirth and assess whether early intercourse is associated with unprotected intercourse, subsequent pregnancy, and unintended pregnancy over 6 months.

METHODS

This secondary analysis used data from the First Baby Study, a prospective study of women aged 18-35 years with singleton pregnancies who delivered at 76 hospitals in Pennsylvania. At 1 and 6 months postpartum, women were asked about intercourse and the use of birth control since childbirth. We compared women who resumed intercourse in the first month after childbirth (early resumption) with those who resumed intercourse later, via multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS

In our cohort, 261 of 2,643 women (9.9%) reported first intercourse within the first postpartum month (7-31 days). Women who resumed intercourse early were less educated, younger, and less likely to breastfeed, have had a perineal laceration, or have had an episiotomy than those who resumed intercourse later. In addition, they were more likely to have unprotected intercourse in at least one of the first 6 months after first childbirth (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.76-3.09); to be pregnant by 6 months postpartum (aOR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.48-6.20); and to report that pregnancy as unintended (aOR, 3.32; 95% CI, 1.50-7.36).

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly 10% of women resumed intercourse in the first month after childbirth. Because early resumption of intercourse was associated with a greater likelihood of unprotected intercourse and unintended pregnancy within 6 months of first childbirth, clinicians should focus efforts on comprehensive family planning and contraception counseling beginning in the prenatal period.

Postpartum women's knowledge and planned use of contraception in Myanmar

BACKGROUND

Maternal mortality in Myanmar is one of the highest in the WHO South-East Asian region. Additionally, the country has a high unmet need for contraception and low rates of uptake of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods (LARCs) including intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants. Engagement with health professionals around the time of a birth is an ideal opportunity for women to access contraception but immediate postpartum provision is not widely offered in Myanmar.

METHODS

We undertook a cross-sectional survey of women immediately postpartum at two hospitals in Yangon to investigate their knowledge, and past use of, contraceptive methods and their plans for postpartum contraception including perceptions of implants and IUDs. Four trained obstetrics staff collected data using electronic tablets between January 2017 and January 2018.

RESULTS

Of the 1755 participants, 55.1% had used pills and 42.2% injectables. In contrast, only 0.5% had used an IUD and 0.3% an implant. Few women (4.4%) anticipated starting contraception immediately postpartum and only a minority would consider future use of an implant (36.9%) or an IUD (13.0%). Fear of side effects was the major barrier to future implant and IUD uptake, reported by 64.5% and 62.5%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Women in maternity care in Yangon have some awareness of IUDs and implants but many hold misconceptions about their side effects leading to reluctance to use. Reducing the unmet need for contraception and improving maternal outcomes in Myanmar could be achieved by improving education, policy and practice around immediate postpartum contraception provision, with a particular focus on LARC methods.