The effectiveness of preabortion contraception counseling

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the impact of preabortion counseling followed by immediate postabortal provision of the chosen method on postabortion contraceptive use.

METHODS

Three hundred and forty-two women undergoing voluntary termination of pregnancy at less than 10 weeks gestation were enrolled at the Woman and Child Health Training and Research Clinic, Medical School of Istanbul. Clinic visits and telephone surveys were performed to measure contraceptive use at 6 months following abortion.

RESULT

Two hundred and thirty-six women either visited the clinic or responded to the telephone survey. Eighty percent of the respondents reported use of a modern contraceptive as compared to less than 40% prevalence found in the national survey.

CONCLUSION

Preabortion counseling combined with immediate postabortal provision of contraceptives may significantly increase contraceptive use at 6 months postprocedure.

Immediate postabortal contraception with the levonorgestrel intrauterine device, Norplant, and traditional methods

Women seeking legal first trimester abortion were counseled concerning contraception methods available for use immediately postabortion. Fifty women each accepted hormonal methods that were available only in the clinic and were novel to the country, the levonorgestrel IUD and Norplant implants, whereas another 50 chose either coitus interruptus or abstinence. All were experienced contraceptors, but larger percentages of women selecting the levonorgestrel IUD or implants had used the pill or IUDs previously, were under age 30, and weighed less than 60 kg compared to the other study participants. In the initial 2-6 weeks postabortion, women using the long-acting hormonal methods resumed sexual activity earlier and experienced more bleeding and spotting days than did other study participants, but their hematocrits were not adversely affected. No clinically significant side effects were noted in any group in the 6 weeks following the abortion. At the end of 1 year of follow-up, women using the hormonal methods had experienced no pregnancies and had high rates of continuation. IUD and implant participants had greater weight gain than did the other participants, but their mean weight remained below that of participants using traditional methods. No significant between-group differences in levels or changes in levels from admission were noted in hematocrit and blood pressure. The women found the levonorgestrel implants and IUDs easy and safe to use and highly effective. Bleeding disturbances, including amenorrhea, were the principal features the women disliked.

Assessing the acceptability, service delivery requirements, and use-effectiveness of the diaphragm in Colombia, Philippines, and Turkey

The diaphragm is not available in many countries, despite the recommendations of numerous authors that it has important advantages as a woman-controlled method that offers some protection against sexually transmitted diseases, and one that is safe and free of side effects. An interagency team collaborated to introduce the diaphragm in Colombia, the Philippines, and Turkey, using the same protocol to assess the acceptability, service delivery requirements and use-effectiveness of the method. Eighteen public and private sector service delivery sites were involved and a total of 550 women were enrolled in the study. Provider training aimed to improve the quality of care with which all methods were delivered and included counseling about sexuality and reproductive health risks. The cumulative 12-month pregnancy rate of 10.1 (SE 1.7) per 100 woman-years is on the low end of previous studies of the diaphragm, and the 12-month continuation rate (57.2 [SE 2.4] per 100) compares favorably with that for oral contraceptives and the intrauterine device. Focus group discussions conducted with clients and providers indicated that the method was an important alternative for some women, particularly those who had experienced health problems with other methods or were unable to negotiate condom use with their partners. Provider biases diminished as they observed the strategic niche that the diaphragm filled for their clients. While providing the diaphragm requires training and good client-provider interaction, the requirements are consistent with those called for in the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD, 1994). With proper attention to quality of care, the diaphragm can be successfully offered in resource-poor settings.

Curable sexually transmitted infections among the clientele of a family planning clinic in Istanbul, Turkey

BACKGROUND

Integrating screening and treatment of sexually transmitted infections into existing family planning programs can be a good way to fight this problem. Also, the number of studies on the prevalence of certain sexually transmitted infections in this population in Turkey is limited.

GOAL

To find out the prevalence of the most common sexually transmitted infections among the clients of an urban family planning clinic and to evaluate demographic characteristics and clinical signs related to sexually transmitted infections.

STUDY DESIGN

Samples for Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Trichomonas vaginalis were collected from 569 women who attended the clinic from December 15, 1997 to March 31, 1998.

RESULTS

No case of N gonorrhoeae was found among the samples. The prevalence of C trachomatis infection was 1.9%, whereas the prevalence of of T vaginalis was 2.6%. None of the demographic characteristics or clinical signs was related to these infections.

CONCLUSION

Larger studies using more sensitive laboratory tests are needed to determine the prevalence of chlamydial infections in family planning clinics in Turkey.

Acceptability of Norplant at a well-woman clinic in Turkey

OBJECTIVE

To make an assessment of the acceptability and cost of subdermal implants, a new method in Turkey, in a free-choice environment.

METHODS

The records of women attending a university well-woman clinic in Istanbul, Turkey, were analyzed retrospectively. Among other contraceptives registered in the country, the women were offered subdermal contraceptive implants (Norplant) during counselling sessions. The women who chose implants were invited to attend for follow-up three times during the first 12 months and were advised to return annually thereafter. An estimation of cost was performed for Norplant, using the government price of the implant and the wage rates of public-sector staff. An estimation of cost was also performed for oral contraceptives.

RESULTS

Among the 5650 women who applied to the Clinic for contraception between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 1998, 274 women decided to use implants, giving an initial acceptance rate of 5.1%. Continuation rates were 91.8%, 71.6% and 42.5% at 12 months, 24 months and 36 months, respectively. There were no pregnancies within the study period. The only demographic characteristic that was positively related to the acceptability of Norplant was younger age. The cost of contraception with Norplant was found to be lower than that for oral contraceptives.

CONCLUSION

The high initial acceptance and continuation rates, combined with its high efficacy, make Norplant a valuable tool for Turkey's National Family Planning Program. Contraception with Norplant is also a cost-effective method, at least for the public sector.

Women's acceptance of an injectable progestin-only contraceptive in a free-choice environment in Turkey

A progestin-only injectable contraceptive has been integrated into the method mix at a well-woman clinic in Turkey. During the period from 1st December 1996 to 1st December 1997, among 3545 new method acceptors at the clinic, 254 women decided to use the injectable, giving an initial acceptance rate of 7%. Continuation rates, however, were quite low: 43.7% at 6 months and only 18.5% at 12 months. Though all the side-effects were mentioned during the counselling sessions, side-effects such as amenorrhea and spotting might have been underestimated by the potential users of this method, which was new in the country. A more detailed counselling with a strong emphasis on frequent side-effects might lower the initial acceptance rate, but can help to increase the continuation rates.