Collaborative pre-introduction study of the clinical performance and acceptability of Norplant in Peru : final report

The evaluation covers the period 7/88-12/89. From the clinical standpoint, the project has advanced well and Norplant is now a well-accepted hormonal method. Of the 302 women who have accepted Norplant, none have become pregnant, and only 12 have had the Norplant removed. Reasons for removal included: headaches (4), bleeding irregularities (2), pain at the implant site (1), other medical reasons (2), and personal reasons (3). Acceptors are predominantly young women under 30 years of age who are highly educated. Most have 1 or 2 children, and only a few have more than 3. Two-thirds have previously used modern contraceptives, with 1 out of 2 having used the IUD or the pill. An important finding is that 57% of the acceptors do not plan an additional pregnancy and half have had 1 or more abortions. The project has made a special effort to visit acceptors who failed to comply with follow-up appointments, and only 3 acceptors have had no follow-up, since they evidently gave incorrect addresses and references. The project has faced two related problems. (1) Enrollment of new acceptors has been slow, due to the frequent labor problems affecting the university hospitals. (2) The country's hyperinflation and rapid currency devaluation have caused administrative difficulties.