Study objectives

Many pediatric providers serving adolescents are not trained to offer comprehensive contraceptive services, including intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants, despite high safety and satisfaction among adolescents. This study assessed an initiative to train providers at school-based health centers (SBHCs) to offer students the full range of contraceptive methods.

Design

Surveys were administered at baseline pre-training and at follow-up 3 months post-training. Data were analyzed using generalized estimating equations for clustered data to examine clinical practice changes.

Setting

Eleven contraceptive trainings at SBHCs across the United States from 2016-2019.

Participants

A total of 260 providers from 158 SBHCs serving 135,800 students.

Interventions

On-site training to strengthen patient-centered counseling and to equip practitioners to integrate IUDs and implants into contraceptive services.

Main outcome measures

The outcomes included counseling experience on IUDs and implants, knowledge of patient eligibility, and clinician method skills.

Results

At follow-up, providers were significantly more likely to report having enough experience to counsel on IUDs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.62-6.36]) and implants (aOR, 3.06; 95% CI, 2.05-4.57). Provider knowledge about patient eligibility for IUDs, including for adolescents, increased (P < .001). Providers were more likely to offer same-visit IUD (aOR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.41-3.12) and implant services (aOR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.44-1.91). Clinicians' skills with contraceptive devices improved, including for a newly available low-cost IUD (aOR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.45-3.36).

Conclusions

Offering evidence-based training is a promising approach to increase counseling and access to comprehensive contraceptive services at SBHCs.

Introduction

Both inpatient and outpatient providers may be at increased risk of stress, anxiety and depression from their roles as health providers during the COVID-19 epidemic. This study explores how the US COVID-19 epidemic has increased feelings of stress, anxiety and depression among outpatient reproductive health providers.

Methods

We conducted a survey with open-ended responses among outpatient reproductive health providers across the U.S. engaged in contraceptive care to collect data on their experiences with stress, anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 epidemic. The study population included physicians, nurses, social workers, and other health professions [n = 288]. Data were collected from April 21st-June 24th 2020. We used content analysis of free text responses among providers reporting increased stress, anxiety or depression.

Results

Two-thirds (184) of providers reported increased stress and one-third (96) reported increased anxiety or depression related to care provision during the COVID-19 epidemic. The major sources of stress, anxiety and depression were due to patient care, worry about becoming infected or infecting family members, work- and home-related concerns, experiencing provider burnout, and fear of the unknown. Concerns about quality of patient care, providers' changing responsibilities, lack of personal protective equipment, and difficulty coping with co-worker illness and absence all contributed to provider stress and anxiety. Worries about unemployment and childcare responsibilities were also highlighted. Providers attributed their stress, anxiety or depression to feeling overwhelmed, being unable to focus, lacking sleep, and worrying about the unknown.

Conclusions

US outpatient providers are experiencing significant stress, anxiety, and depression during the US COVID-19 epidemic. Policy and programmatic responses are urgently needed to address the widespread adverse mental health consequences of this epidemic on outpatient providers, including reproductive health providers, across the US. Both inpatient and outpatient providers may be at increased risk of stress, anxiety and depression from their roles as health providers during the COVID-19 epidemic. This study explores how the US COVID-19 epidemic has increased feelings of stress, anxiety and depression among outpatient reproductive health providers across the US. We conducted a survey from April 21st to June 24th, 2020 among outpatient reproductive health providers, including physicians, nurses, social workers and other health professions. We asked open-ended questions to understand why providers reported increased stress, anxiety and/or depression. Two-thirds (184) of providers reported increased stress and one-third (96) reported increased anxiety or depression from care provision during the COVID-19 epidemic. Major sources of stress, anxiety and depression were due to patient care, worry about becoming infected or infecting family members, work- and home-related concerns, experiencing provider burnout, and fear of the unknown. Concerns about quality of patient care, providers' changing responsibilities, lack of personal protective equipment, and difficulty coping with co-worker illness and absence all contributed to provider stress and anxiety. Worries about unemployment and childcare responsibilities were also highlighted. Providers attributed their stress, anxiety or depression to feeling overwhelmed, being unable to focus, lacking sleep, and worrying about the unknown. This study highlights that US outpatient reproductive health providers are experiencing significant stress, anxiety, and depression during the US COVID-19 epidemic. Policy and programmatic responses are urgently needed to address the widespread adverse mental health consequences of this epidemic on outpatient providers, including reproductive health providers, across the US.

OBJECTIVES: Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate-subcutaneous (DMPA-SC) can be prescribed through telemedicine and self-administered, but data about availability, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, are limited. This study assessed changes in the availability of DMPA-SC for self-administration during the pandemic. STUDY DESIGN: This study used survey data from a convenience sample of US providers engaged in contraceptive care and participating in a Continuing Medical Education-accredited contraceptive training (April 2020-April 2022; n = 849). Providers were recruited from across 503 clinics, including primary care and family planning clinics, public health departments, college and school-based health centers, independent abortion care clinics, and outpatient clinics in hospital settings. Measures included the availability of DMPA-SC for self-administration before and during the pandemic and the use of telemedicine. We used Poisson regression models and cluster-robust errors by clinic, adjusting for region, time of survey, and clinic size, to assess clinic availability of DMPA-SC for self-administration by practice setting. RESULTS: Compared to the prepandemic period (4%), the availability of DMPA-SC for self-administration increased significantly during the pandemic (14%) (adjusted prevalence ratios [aPR] 3.43, 95% CI [2.43-4.85]). During the pandemic, independent abortion clinics were more likely to offer DMPA-SC for self-administration compared to primary care clinics (aPR 2.44, 95% CI [1.10-5.41]). Clinics receiving Title X funds were also more likely to provide DMPA-SC for self-administration during the pandemic compared to other clinics (aPR 2.32, 95% CI [1.57-3.43]), and more likely to offer DMPA-SC for self-administration through telemedicine (aPR 2.35, 95% CI [1.52-3.63]). Compared to the early pandemic period (April-September 2022), telemedicine access to DMPA-SC for self-administration was highest during the later pandemic time period (October 2021-April 2022) (aPR 2.10, 95% CI [1.06-4.17]). CONCLUSIONS: The availability of DMPA-SC for self-administration significantly increased during the pandemic with differences by practice setting and Title X funding. However, overall method availability remains persistently low. IMPLICATIONS: Despite increased availability of DMPA-SC for self-administration among US contraceptive providers during the COVID-19 pandemic, there remains a need to train providers, educate patients, and remove barriers to ensure broader availability of this method across different practice settings.

Objectives

Women may differ by whether they rely on health providers and/or social ties for seeking information and advice about family planning. It is unknown whether these differences matter for contraceptive outcomes. This study assessed the association between women's family planning (FP) network (social and/or provider ties) and contraceptive use.

Study design

This cross-sectional, egocentric network study was conducted among reproductive-age women (n = 193) in rural Madagascar. Data included socio-demographics and contraceptive use. Respondents listed who they relied on for contraceptive information, advice or guidance and provided ties' gender, age, relationship, and perceived support of contraceptive use. The primary outcome was current contraceptive use. Predictors included having a FP network (0/1) and FP network composition (no network, social ties only, provider ties only, both provider and social ties), respectively. Analyses were conducted using a generalized linear model specifying a Poisson distribution, with covariate adjustment and cluster robust standard errors.

Results

Having a network of individuals to turn to for contraceptive information compared to having no FP network was positively associated with contraceptive use (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 4.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.00-9.87). Having a social network, a provider network, or a combination of social and provider network were all positively associated with contraceptive use (aRR 4.30 [CI 1.92-9.66], aRR 4.46 [CI 2.04-9.75], aRR 4.72 [CI 1.93-11.50], respectively), compared to having no FP network.

Conclusions

Contraceptive use was higher among women who relied on social ties, provider ties or both for contraceptive information and advice, compared to women with no FP network. These findings suggest that FP interventions should use a multicomponent approach taking into account both social and provider networks.

Implications

It is unknown whether differences in whether women rely on social ties (friends, partner, family members) vs. providers for contraceptive information and advice affect contraceptive outcomes. Women are just as likely to use contraception whether they rely on social ties, provider ties, or both for contraceptive information and advice.

Introduction

Agency in contraceptive decision-making is an essential aspect of reproductive autonomy. We conducted qualitative research to investigate what agency means to patients seeking contraceptive care to inform the development of a validated measure of this construct.

Methodology

We held four focus group discussions and seven interviews with sexually-active individuals assigned female at birth, ages 16-29 years, recruited from reproductive health clinics in Northern California. We explored experiences in contraceptive decision-making during the clinic visit. We coded data in ATLAS.ti and by hand, compared codes across three coders, and used thematic analysis to identify salient themes.

Results

The sample mean age was 21 years, with 17% of participants identifying as Asian, 23% as Black, 27% as Latinx, 17% as Multiracial/other, and 27% as white. Overall, participants reported active and engaged decision-making in their recent contraceptive visit but noted experiences that had undermined their agency in the past. They described how non-judgmental care allowed them to communicate openly, affirming their ability to make their own decisions. However, several mentioned how unexpected contraceptive side effects after the visit had reduced their sense of agency over their decision in retrospect. Several participants, including those who identified as Black, Latinx, and/or Asian, described prior experiences where pressure to use a contraceptive method had undermined their agency and where they had switched providers to regain agency over their contraceptive decisions.

Discussion

Most participants were aware of their agency during contraceptive visits and how it varied in different experiences with providers and the healthcare system. Patient perspectives can help to inform measurement development and ultimately the delivery of care that supports contraceptive agency.

Background

Telehealth use rapidly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, including for contraceptive care (e.g., counseling and method provision). This study explored providers' experiences with contraceptive care via telehealth.

Methods

We conducted a survey with open-ended responses among contraceptive providers across the United States. The study population included physicians, nurse practitioners, health educators, and other health professionals (n = 546). Data were collected from April 10, 2020, to January 29, 2021. We conducted qualitative content analysis of the open-ended responses.

Results

Providers highlighted the benefits of telehealth, including continuing access to contraceptive services and accommodating patients who faced challenges attending in-person contraceptive visits. Providers at school-based health centers reported telehealth allowed them to reach young people while schools were closed. However, many providers noted a lack of patient awareness about the availability of telehealth services and disparities in access to technology. Providers felt there was less personal connection in virtual contraceptive counseling, noted challenges with confidentiality, and expressed concern about the inability to provide the full range of contraceptive methods through telehealth alone.

Conclusions

The pandemic significantly impacted contraceptive health care delivery. Telehealth has sustained access to contraception in important ways, but has been accompanied by various challenges, including technological access and confidentiality. As hybrid models of care evolve, it is important to assess how telehealth can play a role in providing contraceptive care while addressing its barriers.

Building capacity for contraceptive services in primary care settings, including for intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants, can help to broaden contraceptive access across the US. Following a randomized trial in family planning clinics, we brought a provider training intervention to other clinical settings including primary care in all regions. This implementation science study evaluates a national scale-up of a contraceptive training intervention to varied practice settings from 2013 to 2019 among 3216 clinic staff serving an estimated 1.6 million annual contraceptive patients. We measured providers' knowledge and clinical practice changes regarding IUDs and implants using survey data. We estimated the overall intervention effect, and its relative effectiveness in primary care settings, with generalized estimating equations for clustered data. Patient-centered counseling improved, along with comfort with method provision and removal. Provider knowledge increased (p < 0.001), as did evidence-based counseling for IUDs (aOR 3.3 95% CI 2.8-3.9) and implants (aOR 3.5, 95% CI 3.0-4.1), and clinician competency in copper and levonorgestrel IUDs (aORs 1.8-2.6 95% CIs 1.5-3.2) and implants (aOR 2.4 95% CI 2.0-2.9). While proficiency was lower initially in primary care, gains were significant and at times greater than in Planned Parenthood health clinics. This intervention was effectively scaled, including in primary care settings with limited prior experience with these methods. Recent changes to Title X family planning funding rules exclude several large family planning providers, shifting greater responsibility to primary care and other settings. Scaling effective contraceptive interventions is one way to ensure capacity to offer patients full contraceptive services.

Background

Ensuring women have information, support and access to family planning (FP) services will allow women to exercise their reproductive autonomy and reduce maternal mortality, which remains high in countries such as Madagascar. Research shows that women's social networks - their ties with partners, family members, friends, and providers - affect their contraceptive use. Few studies have considered the role of men's social networks on women's contraceptive use. Insofar as women's contraceptive use may be influenced by their male partners, women's contraceptive use may also be affected by their partner's social networks. Men may differ by the types of ties they rely on for information and advice about FP. It is unknown whether differences in the composition of men's FP networks matter for couples' contraceptive use. This study assessed the association between men's FP networks and couples' contraceptive use.

Methods

This egocentric network study was conducted among married/partnered men (n = 178) in rural Madagascar. Study participants listed who they relied on for FP information and advice, including health providers and social ties. They provided ties' gender, age, relationship, and perceived support of contraceptive use. The primary outcome was couples' contraceptive use, and explanatory variables included FP networks and their composition (no FP network, social-only network, provider-only network, and mixed network of social and provider ties). Analyses used generalized linear models specifying a Poisson distribution, with covariate adjustment and cluster robust standard errors.

Results

Men who had FP networks were 1.9 times more likely to use modern contraception as a couple compared to men with no FP network (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.64-2.52; p ≤ 0.001). Compared to men with no FP network, men were more likely to use modern contraception if they had a social-only network, relative risk (RR) = 2.10 (95% CI, 1.65-2.68; p ≤ 0.001); a provider-only network, RR = 1.80 (95% CI, 1.54-2.11; p ≤ 0.001); or a mixed network, RR = 2.35 (95% CI, 1.97-2.80; p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusions

Whether men have a FP network, be it provider or social ties, distinguishes if couples are using contraception. Interventions should focus on reaching men not only through providers but also through their social ties to foster communication and support for contraceptive use.

Early and appropriate use of antenatal care services is critical for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. Yet most women in sub-Saharan Africa, including Uganda, do not seek antenatal care until later during pregnancy. This qualitative study explored pregnant women's reliance on social ties for information about initiation of antenatal care. We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 30 pregnant women seeking their first antenatal care visit at Kawempe Referral Hospital in Kampala, Uganda. Recruitment was done purposively to obtain variation by parity and whether women currently had a male partner. Study recruitment occurred from August 25th 2020 - October 26th, 2020. We used thematic analysis following a two-stage coding process, with both deductive and inductive codes. Deductive codes followed the key domains of social network and social support theory. We found that the most important source of information about antenatal care initiation was these women's mothers. Other sources included their mothers-in-law, female elders including grandmothers, and male partners. Sisters and female friends were less influential information sources about antenatal initiation. One of the primary reasons for relying on their own mothers, mothers-in-law, and elder women was due to these women's lived experience with pregnancy and childbirth. Trust in the relationship was also an important factor. Some pregnant women were less likely to rely on their sisters or female friends, either due to lack of trust or these women's lack of experience with pregnancy and childbirth. The advice that pregnant women received from their mothers and others on the ideal timing for antenatal care initiation varied significantly, including examples of misinformation about when to initiate antenatal care. Pregnant women seemed less likely to delay care when more than one social tie encouraged early antenatal care. Educating women's social networks, especially their mothers, mothers-in-law, and community elders, about the importance of early antenatal care initiation is a promising avenue for encouraging pregnant women to seek care earlier in pregnancy.