Background

Between 2006 and 2008, Iowa increased access to family planning services through a Medicaid expansion and a privately funded initiative. During this same time, Iowa expanded access to abortion through telemedicine provision of medical abortion. Despite increased access to abortion services, abortions in Iowa have declined. This study assessed whether increased provision of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) may have contributed to the abortion decline.

Study design

We analyzed abortion data from Iowa vital statistics and LARC use data from 14 family planning agencies' records (N=544,248) for the years 2005 to 2012. Mixed-effects logistic regression analyses assessed whether changes in the percentage of LARC users were associated with subsequent reductions in abortion across the state.

Results

From 2005 to 2012, the number of family planning clients using LARC increased from 539 to 8603 (less than 1% to 15%); the number of resident abortions decreased from 5198 to 3887 (8.7 per 1000 women aged 15-44 to 6.7). There were reduced odds of abortion (adjusted odds ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval: 0.94-0.97) with increased LARC use.

Conclusions

Declines in abortion followed increases in LARC use in Iowa.

This study explored barriers to and facilitators of using family planning services among HIV-positive men in Nyanza Province, Kenya. From May to June 2010, in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 men receiving care at 15 HIV clinics. The key barriers to

Despite increasing efforts to address the reproductive health needs of people living with HIV, a high unmet need for contraception exists among HIV+ women in sub-Saharan Africa. This study explores the fertility intentions and family planning (FP) preferen

Objective. To inform an intervention integrating family planning into HIV care, family planning (FP) knowledge, attitudes and practices, and perspectives on integrating FP into HIV care were assessed among healthcare providers in Nyanza Province, Kenya. Me