Retrospective observational study of interventions to improve acceptance of long-acting reversible contraception following abortion at Lusaka Teaching Hospital, Zambia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) uptake immediately after abortion at Lusaka University Teaching Hospital, Zambia in the period following an intervention to increase the acceptance of LARC.

METHODS: The present retrospective, observational study reviewed the clinical records of all patients admitted to the Lusaka University Teaching Hospital for an incomplete abortion or for a legal induced abortion between January 1 and December 31, 2016. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of adult women (aged 20-44 years) and adolescents (aged 10-19 years) who were already using an available contraceptive method at the time of hospital discharge. Contraceptive use was compared with historical data from the same institution before the intervention to increase LARC acceptance was performed.

RESULTS: Data from 3858 patients (587 adolescents and 3271 adults) were included. LARC use was recorded among 108 (18.4%) and 409 (12.5%) adolescents and adults, respectively. This compared with rates from 2011 of less than 1% and less than 4%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The rate of LARC use at discharge following incomplete or induced abortion had increased when compared with historical control data from before the intervention program was performed; however, there remains room for improvement.