Organizational barriers to the availability and insertion of intrauterine devices in Primary Health Care Services

Contraceptive switch and abandonment among women using the pill, condoms and injectables in Brazil

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our study was to assess the covariates of contraceptive switching and abandonment among Brazilian women stratified by oral pills, condoms and injectables.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Women attending primary health care services in three Brazilian mid- to large-sized cities were interviewed face-to-face about their contraceptive practices (n = 2,051). Data were collected using a contraceptive calendar. Analysis included estimates using Kaplan-Meier multiple-decrement life-table probabilities and discrete-time hazards modelling of switching from a method to another or to no method.

RESULTS

Among 3,280 segments of contraceptive use, we observed that five-year contraceptive switching rates ranged from 34.9% among injectable users to 56.1% among pill users. Of particular concern were the high discontinuation rates of abandonment, which ranged from 50.9% among injectable users to 77.4% among pill users. Covariates of method switching and abandonment varied by type of method, but age, race/ethnicity, religion and relationship status must be highlighted as key elements of discontinuation.

CONCLUSION

Contraceptive method switching and abandoning are frequent outcomes of contraceptive use. Understanding the factors that shape women's decisions to continue or discontinue the use of a contraceptive method can help tailoring comprehensive contraceptive counselling that meet their expectations and reproductive needs when starting using a method.

Avaliação da dor e seus fatores associados durante a inserção do dispositivo intrauterino na Atenção Primária à Saúde

Introdução: A inserção do dispositivo intrauterino é uma competência esperada para o médico generalista. No entanto, esse método encontra muitas barreiras ao ser inserido nas unidades básica de saúde, como a falta de treinamento dos profissionais e o medo que as mulheres têm de sentir dor. Objetivo: Avaliar a intensidade da dor durante o procedimento de inserção do dispositivo intrauterino realizado por médicos generalistas em unidades básicas de saúde na região metropolitana de João Pessoa e sua associação com fatores sociodemográficos, aspectos clínicos da mulher e formação médica. Métodos: Estudo transversal e descritivo, com dados coletados em 16 unidades básicas de saúde nos municípios de Conde, Caaporã, João Pessoa e Sapé, no intervalo de março a outubro de 2019. A coleta de dados foi realizada por entrevista individual com questionário estruturado, e a dor foi graduada pela escala visual analógica. Os dados foram analisados utilizando-se os testes de Mann-Whitney e χ². Resultados: Participaram do estudo 139 mulheres com idade mínima de 14 e máxima de 47 anos, cuja média de dor foi de 5,5 para aquelas que estavam menstruadas e de 4,6 para as que não estavam. A dor leve esteve presente em 20,1%, a dor moderada em 38% e dor intensa em 31,7%. Histerometria acima de 7 cm, histórico de uso de anti-inflamatórios na menstruação e de dismenorreia estiveram mais presentes em quem referiu dor intensa (p<0,001). Quanto à qualificação do médico que insere o dispositivo intrauterino, não houve significância estatística na correlação de dor intensa com o fato de ele ser residente (p=0,268), com o tempo de formatura (p=0,080) nem com a dificuldade técnica encontrada (p=0,065). Conclusões: A dor foi considerada pela maioria das mulheres como moderada, sendo uma oferta e um procedimento viável de ser ensinado e inserido na Atenção Primária à Saúde.

Knowledge about the intrauterine device and interest in using it among women users of primary care services

OBJECTIVE

to analyze the level of knowledge about the intrauterine device, the interest in using it and the relationship between these events among women in reproductive age.

METHOD

cross-sectional study conducted with 1858 women between 18 and 49 years old, attending Primary Health Care Facilities. Data were obtained in face-to-face interviews. The level of knowledge was evaluated by items with answers options "agree", "disagree" and "I don't know". Knowledge was categorized as below/equal and above the median. Chi-square and multiple logistic regression were used in Stata 14.2 (95% confidence level).

RESULTS

intrauterine device current use was not frequent (1.7%; n=32) and the level of knowledge was higher among women between 25 and 34 years old, white, living in Aracaju (Sergipe), who were more educated, and who were currently using or had already used the intrauterine device. Interest in using the intrauterine device (38.0%; n=634) was higher among younger women, single, more educated, had health insurance, no children and with higher level of knowledge about the intrauterine device.

CONCLUSION

the level of knowledge about the intrauterine device was associated with the interest in using it.