COMMENT
Only half of postpartum women at
risk for UIP or short IPI reported using
a highly effective contraceptive method,
highlighting the potential role of
contraceptive counseling to increase
postpartumuse and thereby help prevent
adverse outcomes associated with UIP
and short IPI. Our findings suggest that
prenatal and postpartum contraceptive
counseling, independently, were associated
with postpartum contraceptive use,
but the prevalence of postpartum contraceptive
use, including the use of more
effective methods, was highest when
contraceptive counseling was provided
during both the prenatal and postpartum
periods. The greatest benefit of receiving
counseling during both time periods
was observed for women with Medicaid
or no insurance before pregnancy compared
with those privately insured.
Other analyses have found increased
postpartum contraceptive use among
women who received a postpartum care
visit. However, not all women attending
postpartum care visits receive contraceptive
counseling.