THE AVAILABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF THE CONTRACEPTIVE IMPLANT FROM FAMILY-PLANNING AGENCIES IN THE UNITED-STATES, 1991-1992

During the first year and a half after the hormonal contraceptive implant became available in February 1991, an estimated 81,100 women obtained this method from family planning agencies in the United States. Nevertheless, according to a recent survey of family planning providers, implant availability through the family planning clinic system is still far from universal. By September 30, 1992, only 40% of all family planning agencies were offering implant services to their clients: That proportion ranged from 30% of health department family planning providers to 80% of Planned Parenthood affiliates. Some of the key reasons cited by agencies that do not yet provide implants include the special clinician training required to learn insertion and removal procedures, and the cost of the method Furthermore, full accessibility of this method to low-income women attending family planning clinics has been limited primarily to those who receive Medicaid, which has paid for more than 60% of all hormonal implants inserted by family planning agencies.