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.
Abbreviations:
intrauterine device (IUD), emergency contraception (EC), EC pill (ECP), odds ratio (OR), confidence interval (CI)Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 23, 2014
Accepted:
May 21,
2014
Received in revised form:
May 6,
2014
Received:
January 18,
2014
Footnotes
☆Acknowledgment of funding: Partial funding for this study was provided by the International Health Research Scholarship at Stony Brook University.
☆☆Conflict of interest: Authors do not have any conflict of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
