Impact of post-abortion family planning services on contraceptive use and abortion rate among young women in China: a cluster randomised trial | ICRH

Authors and affiliation: 

Jin Liang Zhu (Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, University of Aarhus, Denmark); Wei-Hong Zhang (ICRH); Yimin Cheng (The National Research Institute for Family Planning, China); Juncai Xu (Shanghai Da Cheng Institute of Health, China); Xiao Xu (The Henan Provincial Research Institute for Family Planning, China); Diana Gibson (The Amsterdam School for Social Research, University of Amsterdam); Henrik Stǿvring (Research Unit for General Practice, University of Southern Denmark); Marleen Temmerman (ICRH)

Team members: 

Wei-Hong Zhang; Marleen Temmerman ;

Published: 

The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care, 14:1, 46-54

Publication Date: 

01/02/2009

Objectives To compare two post-abortion family planning (FP) service packages on contraceptive use and repeat abortion rate among young women in three cities in China.

Methods In this cluster-randomized trial, one FP service package included provision of limited information and referral to existing FP services, and the other, more comprehensive, package consisted - in addition to the above simple package - of individual counselling, free provision of contraceptive materials, and involvement of the male partner. Eight matched pairs of hospitals were certified by centralized randomization. Women undergoing abortion were followed up for six months, and data were collected in two rounds, before and after the intervention.

Results We followed a total of 2336 women younger than 25 years (555 before and 555 after the simple intervention package; 634 before and 592 after the comprehensive intervention package). Both packages increased use of any contraceptive method, but the comprehensive approach also increased use of more effective methods. Odds ratios for consistent and correct use of condoms were 2.32 (95% confidence interval 1.55-3.46) and 2.78 (1.81-4.26), respectively, compared with the simple package. The rates of unwanted pregnancies and repeat abortions were somewhat reduced for both packages, with no significant statistical difference between them.

Conclusion Couples who received the comprehensive post-abortion FP service appear to use more effective contraceptive methods and show better compliance.

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