THE ATTITUDES OF CLINIC STAFF AS FACTORS IN WOMENS SELECTION OF NORPLANT(R) IMPLANTS FOR THEIR CONTRACEPTION

Medical and counseling staff at 13 family planning clinics in Texas, U.S.A., were surveyed regarding their opinions and level of information about the contraceptive Norplant(R). These responses were used to assess the relationships between clinicians' information and attitudes about the contraceptive and the use of that method by their patients. No differences were associated with respondents' clinical responsibilities or with their type of professional training. However, significant variations in the numbers of patients receiving Norplant from individual providers, and in the proportion receiving the method from certain clinics, were associated with responses to some attitudinal questions. These findings suggest that the opinions about Norplant held by personnel staffing family planning clinics influence the method selection of their patients.