RIS ID
110308
Link to publisher version (URL)
Abstract
Background The number of prescriptions for contraceptive implants has steadily increased in Australia, but implant use is still low. Objectives The objectives of the study were to describe women's nuanced responses, and characterise their multidimensional and complex reasons for (dis)continuing use of the contraceptive implant. Method A descriptive qualitative approach was used for this study. A larger qualitative study using in-depth, open-ended interviews, conducted in New South Wales between 2012 and 2013 with 94 women aged 16-49 years who had used contraception, included 10 interviews containing accounts of implant use. The 10 interviews were analysed thematically in the present study. Results The three main themes analysed from the 10 interviews were perceived benefits, undesirable experiences and perseverance. Discussion The participants were well informed about the benefits of the implant. Many persevered with it for a significant period of time before discontinuing it, despite experiencing side effects such as bleeding or mood changes. A decision to discontinue was often only made after an accumulation of multiple side effects.
Publication Details
Inoue, K., Kelly, M., Barratt, A., Bateson, D., Rutherford, A., Black, K. I., Stewart, M. & Richters, J. (2016). Australian women's experiences of the subdermal contraceptive implant: A qualitative perspective. Australian Family Physician, 45 (10), 734-739.