Effectiveness and Cost-Effectiveness Of Postpartum IUD Insertion in Lima, Peru

The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of postpartum family planning service provision were assessed in a study of 1560 women giving birth in 1988-1989 at the largest hospital of the Peruvian Social Security Institute (IPSS). Contraceptive counseling and temporary methods were offered to 1 ward of postpartum women while a 2nd ward acting as a control group was discharged without being offered comparable services. In the second half of the study period almost 90% of the experimental group accepted family planning prior to discharge and 25% of the women received an IUD. 6 months after delivery 82% of the members of the experimental group were using a contraceptive method with 40% using an IUD; by comparison 69% of controls were using a method and 27% an IUD. Because inpatient IUD insertion was estimated to cost $9.38 per woman compared with $24.16 for an interval insertion implementing postpartum family planning services in all IPSS hospitals in Lima could save 3-5% of the annual projected IPSS family planning budget for Lima and free up 6% of the current outpatient delivery capacity. (authors) (summaries in FRE SPA)