{
  "abstract": "Background The population health benefits of effective contraception are well established and considerable. However, nearly 49% of UK women face barriers to accessing their preferred contraceptive method, and one in three births in England are unplanned or ambivalent. Due to the risks associated with rapid repeat pregnancy, the postnatal period is a key moment for comprehensive contraception care. The aim of this study was to explore women’s self-reported experiences of postnatal contraception (PNC) care in the North East and North Cumbria (NENC) Integrated Care System (ICS).Methods Women who completed a pregnancy between 2019 and 2023 in the NENC ICS were invited to complete an anonymous online survey. This study reports a thematic analysis of responses returned to a free text question that asked how would you describe your experiences of accessing contraception and contraception information following your most recent pregnancy?. Responses were coded by two researchers using NVivo software and overarching themes were identified by the research team.Results 2,502 survey responses were received. Four key themes emerged: heterogeneity of experiences, the context of new parenthood, experiences with healthcare professionals, and experiences of postnatal contraceptive care (PNC) systems. Women’s experiences of PNC were highly inconsistent, and the pressures of new parenthood presented context-specific barriers to accessing good PNC care. Many women expressed a desire for more consideration of male contraceptive options, whilst others reported a lack of autonomy in contraceptive decision-making. Systemic barriers further impacted provision, with many women describing a need to initiate their own care.Conclusion This study found that women’s experiences of PNC care were varied and often suboptimal, highlighting population-specific and system/service-specific barriers to better care. There is an urgent need for a review of current commissioning and delivery models, and for a more consistent and reliable PNC offer for all women.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Akshay Pabary"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Shauna Kelly"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK"
      ],
      "name": "Malcolm Moffat"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P05-1 Experiences of postnatal contraception care in the North East and North Cumbria: findings from a cross-sectional survey study",
  "uid": "22c50bfb-1600-5bac-b3d3-5862bfe1b477"
}