WITHDRAWN - The provision of long-acting reversible contraception and teenage pregnancy rates – a primary care mapping exercise in Sheffield.

Problem

UK General Practice (GP) has a key role in addressing health inequalities in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). Understanding current barriers and facilitators for providing and accessing care will allow the tailoring of interventions and services for individuals at more risk of detrimental SRH outcomes. Contraceptive health has been slowly transitioning into more mainstream primary care services in response to reduced funding within local authorities. The Teenage Pregnancy Strategy: Beyond 2010 reported that teenage pregnancy is both a cause and a result of exclusion, poverty and inequality. Babies of teenage mothers have a 60% higher risk of dying in their first year of life. Unplanned pregnancies can lead to late antenatal booking, this combined with low-socioeconomic factors and deprivation increase obstetric risk.

In Sheffield, there are increasing numbers of conception in women under the age of 18 especially in deprived communities. The availability of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is correlated with reducing teenage pregnancies. Provision of LARC in Sheffield was based on historic contracts with certain practices providing services, this study mapped areas of need versus availability.

Approach

This was a joint study with local authority sexual health improvement team and the academic unit of primary care in Sheffield. Data was extracted for deprivation and teenage pregnancy from pre-existing public health reports. The primary care LARC providers in Sheffield were contacted to identify numbers and provision of LARCs.

Findings

The data shows deprivation and teenage pregnancy rates correlating. The primary care data is still being processed but initial findings show little correlation between LARC provision.

Consequences

This study will link into current provision of LARCs in Sheffield and will help to provide an easier to access service which may lead to primary care services interlinking. The hope is that there will be a better coverage of LARCs within deprived areas which will increase utilisation especially for those who struggle to access central sexual health services. This is part of a larger sexual and reproductive health improvement program in Sheffield and will be also presented to the CCG and Task and Finish group.