CONTRACEPTIVE CHOICE IN VIGEVANO, ITALY, 1983-1993

The authors, after general consideration of family planning programs, present a study of 22 714 women, who, in the decade 1983-1993, require d contraceptive protection from the Family Planning Centers in the reg ion of Vigevano (Italy). The authors underline the importance of a pro tocol used before beginning treatment to help prevent women receiving methods carrying too great a health risk. The results show a very high prevalence of oral contraception, increasing in recent years with the introduction of triphasic pills, while use of intrauterine contracept ion seems to be declining. Other conventional methods, such as barrier (diaphragm and condom) and 'natural' methods, had a low incidence in the sample studied. The reasons for these behaviors are analyzed and t he relative trends discussed.