Title X Provider Experiences With and Perceptions of Contraception Guidelines Implementation in Georgia: A...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Contraceptive Care
• Healthcare Provider Education

Background:

• Georgia Title X sites provide essential contraceptive access to over 160,000 patients annually.
• The U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria and Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use (U.S. MEC SPR) aim to enhance contraceptive access.
• Limited research exists on the practical implementation and provider experiences with the U.S. MEC SPR.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Georgia Title X providers' experiences and attitudes regarding the implementation of the U.S. MEC SPR.
• To identify perceived benefits and challenges associated with U.S. MEC SPR use in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 20 Georgia Title X providers.
• Data analysis included rapid analysis techniques and thematic analysis.
• Demographic data were collected via survey and analyzed using SAS.

Main Results:

• Providers reported U.S. MEC SPR facilitates patient education and enhances prescribing confidence.
• Key challenges included limited user-friendliness and insufficient detail on certain medical conditions within the U.S. MEC.
• Provider experiences with leadership prioritization varied, yet perceived patient barriers to care were consistent.

Conclusions:

• The U.S. MEC SPR shows potential to aid Title X providers in serving patients seeking contraception.
• Barriers to widespread implementation necessitate consideration of provider needs and patient access factors.
• Future efforts should focus on improving guidelines' usability and addressing systemic issues impacting contraceptive care delivery.