title: Levels and determinants of switching following intrauterine device discontinuation in 14 developing countries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the levels and determinants of switching to any reversible modern contraceptive method following intrauterine device (IUD) discontinuation due to method-related reasons among women in developing countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed 5-year contraceptive calendar data from 14 Demographic and Health Surveys, conducted in 1993-2008 (n=218,092 women; 17,151 women contributed a total of 18,485 IUD episodes). Life-table methods were used to determine overall and cause-specific probabilities of IUD discontinuation at 12 months of use. For IUD episodes discontinued due to method-related reasons, the probability of switching to another reversible modern method within 3 months was estimated, overall and by place of residence, education level, motivation for use, age category and wealth tertiles. Country-specific rate ratios (RR) were estimated using generalized linear models, and pooled RRs using meta-analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median duration of uninterrupted IUD use was 37 months. At 12 months, median probability of discontinuation was 13.2% and median probability of discontinuation due to method-related reasons was 8.9%. Within 3 months of discontinuation due to method-related reasons, half of the women had switched to another reversible modern method, 12% switched to traditional methods, 12% became pregnant, and 25% remained at risk for pregnancy. More educated women were more likely to switch to another reversible modern method than women with primary education or less (pooled RR 1.47; 95% CI 1.10-1.96), as were women in the highest wealth tertile (pooled RR 1.38; 95% CI 1.04-1.83) and women who were limiting births (pooled RR 1.35; 95% CI 1.08-1.68).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delays to switching and switching to less reliable methods following IUD discontinuation remain a problem, exposing women to the risk of unwanted pregnancy. Family planning programmes should aim to improve quality of services through strengthening of counselling and follow-up services to support women's continuation of effective methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of unintended pregnancy following IUD discontinuation remains high in developing countries. The quality of family planning services may be an important factor in switching to alternative modern contraceptive methods. Service providers should focus on counselling services and follow-up of women to support the continued use of effective methods.
authors.affiliation: Health Information and Statistics, Department of Information, Evidence and Research, Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, World Health Organization, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Health System Department, Marie Stopes International, W1T 6LP London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Min Hae
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Health System Department, Marie Stopes International, W1T 6LP London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Thoai.Ngo@mariestopes.org.
authors.forename: Thoai D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Ngo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003906:Developing Countries; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices; D015993:Life Tables; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Contraceptive discontinuation; Contraceptive switching; Demographic Health Surveys; Family planning; Intrauterine device