title: Provider views on the acceptability of an IUD checklist screening tool.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Family Health International developed a simple checklist to help family planning providers apply the new medical eligibility criteria (MEC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the use of the intrauterine device (IUD) contraceptive method.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty-five providers in four countries participated in focus groups to field test the checklist. Before participating in a discussion about the checklist, each provider was given a copy of the checklist, its instructions and hypothetical client scenarios. Providers used the checklist to answer questions about the client scenarios in order to determine if they understood the checklist and if they would correctly determine IUD eligibility for women in updated categories of eligibility on the basis of the checklist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Providers found the checklist easy to use and thought that it would enhance identification of eligible IUD users. Nevertheless, many providers relied on prior knowledge of IUD eligibility rather than the checklist recommendations. Providers only correctly determined eligibility for new categories of IUD use 69% of the time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IUD checklist is a useful job tool for providers, but training and effective dissemination of the WHO MEC should precede its introduction to ensure that it is correctly used.
authors.affiliation: Family Health Institute, Family Health International, NC 27713, USA. jwesson@fhi.org
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wesson
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gmach
authors.forename: Rukhsana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gazi
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.forename: José Figueroa
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Méndez
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olenja
authors.forename: Rokhaya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nguer
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Janowitz
mesh_terms: D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods*; D003906:Developing Countries; D004608:Eligibility Determination / Q000379:methods*; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007435:Intrauterine Devices, Copper