Publication:

Postpartum Implanon/Nexplanon continuation rates and associated factors among women who ever used Implanon/Nexplanon in a tertiary hospital in Accra, Ghana

Background Postpartum Implanon use serves as an important conduit to bridge the wide gap of unmet need for contraception. The study sought to determine the continuation rates of postpartum Implanon/Nexplanon use and factors associated with it.

Methods A retrospective review of electronic data of 391 women who had received postpartum Implanon/Nexplanon insertions from January 2012 to December 2015 was conducted at a family planning hospital in Accra, Ghana. Continuation rates and factors associated with discontinuation at 6 months, one year and two years post-partum were determined. Data were analysed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20.

Results A total of 391 postpartum Implanon/Nexplanon insertions were done during study period. Their mean age was 28.51±5.29 years and median parity was 2.0. Continuation rates of postpartum Implanon/Nexplanon at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years post uptake were 94.9%, 92.8% and 86.4% respectively. Women with tertiary level education were 64% less likely to continue Implanon/Nexplanon use at one-year post uptake (OR=0.36, CI=0.16-0.85). Women with education up to Senior High School were 62% less likely to continue postpartum Implanon/Nexplanon use at 2 years after uptake (OR=0.38, CI=0.18-0.81). Women between ages 20 and 29 years were 53% less likely to continue postpartum Implanon/Nexplanon use at 2 years (OR=0.47, CI=0.26-0.86). Reasons for discontinuation of postpartum Implanon/Nexplanon use were wishes to get pregnant and side effects of the method.

Conclusions Post -partum Implanon/Nexplanon continuation rates are high and remain as a viable choice for reduction of unplanned pregnancies post- delivery.