Immediate postpartum versus 6-week postpartum intrauterine device insertion: a feasibility study of a randomized controlled trial.
This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial of postpartum intrauterine device insertion and to demonstrate that the postpartum intrauterine device is acceptable to women. Women attending prenatal care at a maternity hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi were recruited into a trial comparing immediate (10 minutes to 48 hours) to 6 week postpartum insertion. Feasibility of recruiting and consenting 140 women and randomizing 70% of them was evaluated. Satisfaction with the intrauterine device was also assessed. One hundred fifteen women consented and 49 (61%) were randomized. Twenty-six women were assigned to immediate insertion, and 23 to insertion at 6 weeks postpartum. Thirty (24%) women received the device as part of the study protocol, and 28 (93%) had the device in place at 12 weeks postpartum. The intrauterine device is acceptable to some postpartum women in Malawi, but conducting a randomized clinical trial may not be feasible.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Women's Primary Healthcare, University of North Carolina, USA. amy_bryant@med.unc.edu
Amy G
AG
Bryant
Gift
G
Kamanga
Gretchen S
GS
Stuart
Lisa B
LB
Haddad
Tarek
T
Meguid
Chisale
C
Mhango
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D008295:Malawi; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D049590:Postpartum Period; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors