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LARC Placement Among Active Army Servicewomen
Obstet Gynecol; ePub 2017 Apr 4; Erickson, et al
Rates of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) insertion are low but rising among active-duty US Army servicewomen, a recent study found. These rising rates are driven by increasing implant use, according to a retrospective cohort study which included 114,661 servicewomen aged 18 to 44 years from 2011 to 2014. Data were analyzed to assess rates and predictors of LARC initiation. Researchers found:
- 14.5% of servicewomen received an LARC method; 60% received an IUD.
- IUD insertions decreased over the study period, whereas LARC uptake increased, driven by an increase in implant insertions.
- Younger age was a positive predictor of LARC uptake.
- 26.2% of IUD users had 1 child compared with 13.2% among non-LARC users.
- The majority of those initiating IUDs were married.
Citation:
Erickson AK, Nelson DA, Shaw JG, Loftus PD, Kurina LM, Shaw KA. Long-acting reversible contraceptive placement among active-duty U.S. Army servicewomen. [Published online ahead of print April 4, 2017]. Obstet Gynecol. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001971.