Background: This study describes the patterns of planned use and actual receipt of immediate postpartum depot medroxyprogesterone (DMPA) prior to hospital discharge among low-income breastfeeding initiators.
Materials and methods: Bivariate analyses among DMPA recipients by prenatal planned/unplanned use and the sensitivity of DMPA self-report relative to pharmacologic record were calculated.
Results: Among immediate postpartum DMPA recipients (n=58), 72.4% (n=42) did not plan to use DMPA. The sensitivity of self-reported DMPA use was 89.7% (95% confidence interval, 85.2, 94.2).
Conclusions: Clinically, it is unclear if the immediate postpartum period is the appropriate time to obtain consent and administer a long-acting contraceptive method. In our sample, women accurately recalled receiving DMPA in the immediate postpartum period. However, the majority did not plan to use this contraceptive method. Further high-quality qualitative and quantitative research regarding women's contraceptive plans and perception of the postpartum DMPA consent process and the healthcare provider's attitudes regarding consent and prescription of immediate postpartum DMPA are warranted.