Postnatal Contraception - Views of women on a postnatal ward

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Knowledge, behaviour and attitudes towards contraception and the provision of contraception prior to discharge from hospital by women on a postnatal ward

• IRAS ID

  226211

• Contact name

  Annette Thwaites

• Contact email

  annette.thwaites@phe.gov.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Public Health England

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 2 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Postnatal Contraception - Views of women on a postnatal ward

  It is estimated that up to 50% of UK births are unplanned or ambivalent and this has important health and economic consequences at an individual and population level. Reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies by increasing the knowledge and access to all methods of contraception is a key priority area in the national framework for improvement in sexual heath. Recent guidance from the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) on contraception after pregnancy states that maternity service providers should be able to provide all effective contraceptive methods immediately after childbirth. Providing in-hospital postnatal contraception is important as
  • rapid repeat pregnancies lead to worse outcomes for the mother and child
  • multiple barriers exist for women accessing contraception services in the community in the postnatal period
  • it is a unique opportunity to reach the most vulnerable groups e.g. women with drug and alcohol and mental health problems

  However the provision of postnatal contraception is not currently routine practice in UK NHS hospitals. There is therefore a need to understand women’s views on the provision of contraception prior to discharge from hospital and identify any barriers to this. This study is a survey of women on the postnatal ward of University Hospital Lewisham. It is a confidential, anonymised questionnaire covering knowledge, behaviour and attitudes. It will take 10 minutes and be conducted by the patient bedside or elsewhere on the ward at a convenient time for the woman. Before the survey women will be given an information leaflet by their midwife and afterwards they will be given up-to-date information on contraception and local services. It will be administered by a coordinated small team of qualified researchers. The study will be conducted for up to 30 working days. It is sponsored/cofunded by Public Health England/FSRH.

• REC name

  London - City & East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  17/LO/0770

• Date of REC Opinion

  19 May 2017

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion