WHO USES NORPLANT - A STUDY FROM FINLAND

Objective. Although Norplant implantable contraceptives were introduce d first in Finland, their use has been infrequent. The objective of th is study was to investigate what kind of women use Norplant in Finland , who suggested its use, and from what source women get their informat ion on Norplant. Methods. A questionnaire was mailed to all women havi ng had Norplant inserted one to two years before the study initiation (June 1992) in seven family-planning clinics in the Helsinki city area (n = 262). After one reminder, the response rate was 82%. Results. Mo st of the users were 25-34 years old, and many of them had had a previ ous abortion. Half of the women were still considering a (subsequent) child. All the women had used some birth control method before Norplan t and reported several problems with it. Women reported that they them selves had chosen Norplant, but physicians and nursing staff in the fa mily-planning clinic were their most important information sources. Mo st women considered that they had received sufficient information befo re insertion regarding both the good and bad aspects of the method. Co nclusions. Women with previous abortions are a special users' group fo r Norplant, even though most users are in no way exceptional women.