Tennessee Medicaid patient immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception utilization

To understand immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception (IPP LARC) desire and utilization trends among publicly insured patients delivering at one academic hospital in a state with health care barriers and high short-interval birth rates.

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of electronic delivery records between March 2018 and June 2023 for publicly insured patients. Patient demographics, IPP LARC desire and utilization trends were compared using χ² or Fisher exact tests. Binary logistic regression explored the relationship between IPP LARC utilization and demographics. Multivariable logistic regression was performed on all statistically significant variables.

Analysis included 10,472 delivery encounters; 2459 (23.5%) requested IPP LARC on admission and 464 (4.4%) changed contraception to IPP LARC after admission. Among those obtaining IPP LARC (n = 2523, 24.1%), 1224 (48.5%) selected arm implants and 1299 selected intrauterine devices (IUDs). Patients who self-reported as non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic Other or multiple races utilized IPP LARC less (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR)=0.84, 95% CI: 0.72-0.98, aOR=0.68, CI 95%: 0.48-0.97, respectively). Patients with cesarean delivery (aOR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.31-1.61) or inadequate prenatal care (aOR=1.54, CI 95%: 1.35-1.75) were more likely to utilize IPP LARC. Maternal age and years of education were inversely associated with utilization. Primiparous patients were less likely to utilize IPP LARC.

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) utilization was 24.1% during the immediate postpartum period; higher than the 11% nationally reported interval LARC use among publicly insured patients. Understanding the demographics of those desiring IPP LARC could highlight accessibility gaps. The impact of IPP LARC utilization on rates of short-interval birth is being evaluated.

Understanding the demographics of IPP LARC utilizers may contribute to understanding accessibility gaps and facilitate discernment of factors impacting patient initiation. Evidence suggests that comprehensive contraception access during delivery admission is feasible, patient-desired, and essential.