Postpartum contraceptive planning of women with substance abuse disorders
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Postpartum contraceptive planning of women with substance abuse disorders Christine E. Gilmartin1 · Oran Milman1,2 · Laura Leung1 Received: 26 August 2020 / Accepted: 19 November 2020 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract Background Women with substance abuse disorders have lower use of contraception. Unplanned pregnancies increase risk of fetal exposure to addictive and teratogenic substances. Postpartum inpatient periods for these women can be challenging times to facilitate contraception planning. Objective To explore postnatal contraceptive planning practices, patient preferences for contraception, and supply challenges, and to identify how clinical pharmacists may best provide care in this context. Setting A tertiary maternity referral hospital in metropolitan Victoria, Australia (January 2015—December 2018). Method A retrospective cohort study was conducted on postnatal women with substance abuse disorders. Patients were excluded if they had delivered at another health service, had inadequate documented evidence of a substance abuse disorder, or had incomplete or unavailable medical records. Records were reviewed for demographic data, admission details, and documented contraceptive planning. Main outcome measures Documented contraceptive planning, patient contraception preferences and identified supply challenges. Results Ninety-three women were included. Seventy-one (76.3%) had psychiatric disorders or impairments, and 92 (98.9%) had identifiable follow-up challenges (eg. Homelessness). Nine (9.7%) self-discharged/absconded. Eighty-seven (93.5%) had documented postnatal contraception discussions. Sixty-two of 87 (71.3%) considered a medicine/device, three (3.4%) preferred condoms, 10 (11.5%) considered sterilisation, 2 (2.3%) preferred no contraception, and 16 (18.4%) undecided. Etonogestral 68 mg implants were most commonly prescribed (28 of 42; 66.7%). Conclusion Inpatient postpartum periods for this cohort were characterised by psycho-social complexities, inconsistent contraceptive planning documentation, and patients seemingly unprepared to consider contraception. This study highlights a need for an earlier decision-making process and pragmatic counselling with antenatal pharmacists. Keyword Addiction · Contraception · Counselling · Postpartum · Substance abuse
Impact of findings on practice statements • Inpatient postpartum periods for this cohort can be
characterised by psycho-social complexities, inconsistent documentation of contraceptive planning, and some
patients seemingly unprepared to consider contraception before discharge. • This study highlights the need to augment the decisionmaking process with timely, thorough, and pragmatic counselling. • Early antenatal pharmacist intervention may improve contraceptive management and potentially reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancies.
* Christine E. Gilmartin [email protected] 1
The Royal Women’s Hospital Pharmacy Department, The Royal Women’s Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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