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Integration of Onsite Long‐Acting Reversible Contraception Services Into School‐Based Health Centers
Author(s) -
Summit Aleza K.,
Friedman Emmeline,
Stein Tara B.,
Gold Marji
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of school health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.851
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1746-1561
pISSN - 0022-4391
DOI - 10.1111/josh.12732
Subject(s) - staffing , medicine , nursing , family planning , long acting reversible contraception , reproductive health , family medicine , qualitative research , program evaluation , population , medical education , research methodology , environmental health , social science , public administration , sociology , political science
BACKGROUND With recent recommendations from professional organizations, long‐acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods are considered appropriate first‐line contraception for adolescents. Many school‐based health centers (SBHCs) in New York City (NYC) have recently added onsite LARC insertion and management to their contraceptive options. We aimed to explore key elements needed to implement LARC training and services into the SBHC setting and to identify successful factors for program implementation. METHODS Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with 19 providers and staff at 7 SBHCs in high schools in the Bronx and analyzed using Dedoose. RESULTS Support and leadership from administration; comprehensive onsite training of providers and staff; developing an effective staffing model for procedure sessions; and patient‐centered contraceptive counseling were 4 key themes named by respondents as crucial to the program implementation process. CONCLUSIONS Integrating LARC services onsite at SBHCs is feasible and positively received by providers and staff. With good leadership, staffing, training, and appropriate contraceptive counseling, both SBHCs and other primary clinics that serve adolescents can integrate LARC insertion, removal, and management into routine contraceptive care. This in turn can increase youth access to these methods.