title: Preventing repeat abortion in Canada: is the immediate insertion of intrauterine devices postabortion a cost-effective option associated with fewer repeat abortions?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2005, 97,254 abortions were performed in Canada, of which 38% were repeat abortions. The objective of this research was to determine if provision of free intrauterine devices (IUDs) postabortion is associated with a reduction in health-care costs and repeat abortions in a Canadian population compared with provision of oral contraceptives (OCPs) or depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was conducted by intention-to-treat chart review in a facility providing the majority of abortions in a Canadian health region. All (n=1782) residents of this region who underwent abortion in 2003, 2004 and 2008 were included. One- and 5-year rates of repeat abortion were calculated, and a cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted to compare health-care system costs of providing patients with IUDs, OCPs or DMPA and subsequent repeat abortions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2003 and 2004, 1101 index abortions occurred. The main contraceptive cohorts were immediate IUD insertion (n=117, 10.6%), immediate OCP (n=413, 37.5%) and immediate DMPA administration (n=357, 32.4%). After 5 years repeat abortion rates in the respective cohorts were: IUD, 9.4%, OCP, 17.4%, DMPA, 16.2% (p=.05). One-year rates of repeat abortion were not significantly different. Costs of providing contraception and subsequent abortions over 5 years were $142.63 (IUD), $385.61 (OCP) and $384.81 (DMPA) per user.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The immediate insertion of IUDs postabortion is associated with a lower 5-year rate of repeat abortion than provision of OCPs or DMPA. A cost reduction to the health-care system occurs when providing IUDs postabortion vs. alternate contraception of equivalent duration.
authors: McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3T 1E2 Canada. cmames@gmail.com
authors: Christina M
authors: CM
authors: Ames
authors: Wendy V
authors: WV
authors: Norman
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices / Q000191:economics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female