Population Council Research that makes a difference

FRONTIERS and the University of Southampton conducted a workshop to review lessons learned on intrauterine device (IUD) use and to identify possible interventions for increasing access to the IUD. Small-scale pilot projects were implemented in Ghana, Guatemala, India, Honduras, and Nepal to test intervention strategies; some of these studies are still underway.

Preliminary findings from the Ghana project show that training community health officers on long-term methods significantly increased their understanding of such methods, while also raising awareness of long-term contraception in the community. The study in India revealed numerous misconceptions and “myths” about IUDs, their effects, and their side effects. In Honduras the project showed that information, education, and outreach campaigns increased use of the IUD without compromising users’ ability to make informed choices among several alternative methods. The findings will be disseminated globally and at the national level in the pilot countries through meetings with key stakeholders.