Associations between contraceptive availability and rate of subsequent legal abortions in Colombia: A historical cohort analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe factors associated with subsequent abortions in Colombia and evaluate whether high-efficacy contraceptive availability (IUD) post-index abortion was associated with higher efficacy contraceptive initiation and fewer subsequent abortions within 2 years. METHODS: The study population comprised patients aged 15-44 years who underwent index abortion in 2017 at four clinics in Bogotá, Colombia. Using charts, we conducted a retrospective cohort study with 2-year follow-up (2017-2019) after the index abortion for outcomes of contraceptive initiation and subsequent abortion. We evaluated associations between demographic or clinical characteristics and outcomes using Pearson chi-square and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 9175 patients with index abortion, 3409 (37.2%) initiated an intrauterine device (IUD) and 467 (5.1%) had a subsequent abortion within the study period (2017-2019). IUD availability (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-1.93) and insurance use (aOR, 5.03; 95% CI, 4.37-5.78) were associated with high-efficacy contraceptive initiation; medication abortion was inversely associated (aOR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.22-0.27). Initiation of no (aOR, 4.94; 95% CI, 3.59-6.80) or moderate-efficacy (injection: aOR, 4.21 [95% CI, 3.14-5.62]; oral contraceptive pill: aOR, 4.60 [95% CI, 3.21-6.59]) methods were associated with subsequent abortion. CONCLUSION: Subsequent abortion is inversely associated with initiated postabortion contraceptive efficacy, which is modifiable on a systems level by improving access to effective postabortion contraception.

Legal termination of pregnancy as an opportunity for expanding postabortion contraception: Experience at the Pereira Rossell Hospital, Montevideo, Uruguay.

OBJECTIVE: To determine to what extent women adopted highly effective contraceptive methods after a legal abortion. METHODS: The data available during a period before and another period after liberalization of the abortion law were reviewed. The data gathering was incomplete and reliable only during certain periods, which were used in the study. RESULTS: There was an increase in the proportion of women who returned for contraception and in the proportion who used any method and long-acting methods; however, no contraception was administered immediately after abortion and only 16% of all women treated started to use a long-acting method during the period after the law was liberalized. CONCLUSION: The proposed objective was not being achieved, the recommended guidelines were not being followed, and data gathering was incomplete. Good intentions are not enough and it is always necessary to evaluate the performance of a program. The results indicate that immediate reforms are necessary in postabortion contraception services.

Legal termination of pregnancy as an opportunity for expanding postabortion contraception: Experience at the Pereira Rossell Hospital, Montevideo, Uruguay.

OBJECTIVE: To determine to what extent women adopted highly effective contraceptive methods after a legal abortion. METHODS: The data available during a period before and another period after liberalization of the abortion law were reviewed. The data gathering was incomplete and reliable only during certain periods, which were used in the study. RESULTS: There was an increase in the proportion of women who returned for contraception and in the proportion who used any method and long-acting methods; however, no contraception was administered immediately after abortion and only 16% of all women treated started to use a long-acting method during the period after the law was liberalized. CONCLUSION: The proposed objective was not being achieved, the recommended guidelines were not being followed, and data gathering was incomplete. Good intentions are not enough and it is always necessary to evaluate the performance of a program. The results indicate that immediate reforms are necessary in postabortion contraception services.