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Unplanned pregnancy and contraceptive use in women attending drug treatment services
Author(s) -
Black Kirsten I.,
Stephens Christine,
Haber Paul S.,
Lintzeris Nicholas
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.2012.01413.x
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , family medicine , family planning , miscarriage , fertility , referral , reproductive health , population , focus group , gynecology , obstetrics , environmental health , genetics , marketing , business , research methodology , biology
Background At an international level, there are calls for a greater focus on women and harm reduction in recognition that female drug users have a unique set of issues that are not routinely assessed in drug treatment programs. Aims To assess the pregnancy history, current pregnancy risk and contraceptive use of nonpregnant women attending opioid treatment programs ( OTP s). Methods This study involved a structured questionnaire survey of 204 women attending outpatient OTP services within the S ydney S outh W est A rea H ealth S ervice. Results Two hundred and four women of 302 (67.5%) enroled in OTP s at the time completed surveys. Key findings were high pregnancy rates, with 28.9% of women reporting six or more pregnancies, high rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes (miscarriage, termination and stillbirth) compared with national data and poor uptake of contraception, with only 54.7% of sexually active women not wanting to get pregnant using a method. Women expressed diverse preferences for the type and location of women's health services they felt would meet their needs. Conclusion Women in OTP clinics have unaddressed reproductive health issues, particularly around contraception. Addressing these will potentially minimise the risk of material deprivation and social exclusion in these women and improve their well‐being through greater control and choice over their fertility. Current women's health service provision in OTP programs involves referral to external services, but an integrated model of care may best address the unmet contraceptive needs of these women.