AN EVALUATION OF THE COPPER-T-380A IUDS SAFETY AND EFFICACY AT 3 AFRICAN CENTERS

The use of intrauterine devices in Africa is low compared with other c ontraceptive methods such as oral contraceptives. This study, coordina ted by Family Health International, evaluated the clinical performance (safety and efficacy) of the TCu 380A IUD in three African centers, r espectively, in Cameroon, Egypt, and Nigeria from 1986-1989. The 12-mo nth unintended pregnancy rates were low for all three centers, ranging from none to 1.6 per 100 women. The 12-month discontinuation rates fo r all reasons ranged from 8.8 to 26.9 per 100 women. Statistically sig nificant differences were observed among clinics for discontinuation r ates for bleeding and/or pain and for planned pregnancy The overall pe rformance of the TCu 380A IUDs was considered satisfactory Thus, the l imited use of IUD in Africa could be due to the lack of accessibility, lack of information about, and confidence in the method rather than t o documented clinical performance.