Availability and Use of Contraceptive Implants in Jamaica: Results of a Review of Medical Records and a Survey of Reproductive Healthcare Providers in Six Public Health Centres

Objective: The prevalence of sub-dermal contraceptive implant use in Jamaica is low, despite growing international acceptance of long-acting reversible contraception. This study assessed the availability, effectiveness, side-effects and utilization of sub-dermal contraceptive implants and described the characteristics of users over a one-year period. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of women aged 15-45 years who utilized contraceptive implant-related services at any of the six included public health centres in Jamaica during 2013, and surveyed 20 available reproductive healthcare providers. Results: In 2013, 738 women attended a Jamaican public health centre for contraceptive implant services: 493 (66.8%) for insertion, 202 (27.4%) for removal and 53 (7.2%) for follow-up visits (10 women had the same implant inserted and removed in 2013). The women's median age was 26.0 years, 24.3% were <= 18 years, and 85.9% had >= 1 child. Most women (68.5%) did not have documented side-effects; irregular bleeding, the most commonly documented side-effect, was recorded for 24%. Of the 493 women who had implants inserted, three (0.6%) were identified to be pregnant within three months of insertion. Among the 202 women who had implants removed, 11 (5.4%) experienced complications with removal. Reproductive healthcare providers highlighted the need for an expansion of contraceptive implant availability and provider training. Conclusion: Sub-dermal implants have few insertion complications and side-effects and are effective, but were underutilized in Jamaica. Increased implant availability and enhanced reproductive healthcare provider training may improve implant utilization and reduce unintended pregnancy rates in Jamaica.