Increasing IUD and Implant Use Among Those at Risk of a Subsequent Preterm Birth: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Postpartum Contraceptive Counseling

Abstract

Objective: To assess the impact of contraceptive counseling on the uptake of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), namely, intrauterine devices and the contraceptive implant, by 3 months postpartum among women with a recent preterm birth.

Design: We enrolled patients in a single-blinded, one-to-one, randomized, controlled trial to assess the impact of enhanced family planning counseling immediately after a viable preterm birth in the inpatient setting. Participants received either structured counseling with an emphasis on LARC by a family planning specialist (intervention) or routine postpartum care (control). We followed participants to the primary outcome of LARC use 3 months postpartum.

Results: We followed 121 participants for 3 months. Primary outcome data were available for 119 participants (61 intervention, 58 control). We found no demographic differences between the groups. Participants in the intervention group were significantly more likely to use LARC at 3 months postpartum compared with controls (51% vs. 31%; p < .05). For every six women who received the counseling intervention, one additional woman was using a LARC method at 3 months.

Conclusions: After a preterm birth, brief LARC-focused, structured counseling before hospital discharge significantly increased LARC method use at 3 months postpartum.