Key clinical point: The contraception workforce in the United States varies by geography, provider specialty, and Medicaid acceptance, and gaps remain in the provision of IUDs and implants.
Major finding: Approximately 73% of obgyns and nurse midwives prescribed the pill, patch, or ring, compared to 51% of family medicine physicians, 32% of pediatricians, and 20% of internal medicine physicians. A majority of obgyns provided contraception to Medicaid patients, ranging from 84% in the District of Columbia to 100% in North Dakota.
Study details: The data come from an observational study of the contraception workforce in the United States. A team of researchers created a comprehensive database of the workforce in the United States that provides six contraception types: intrauterine device (IUD), implant, shot (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, or DMPA), oral contraception, hormonal patch, and vaginal ring.
Disclosures: The study was funded by a private foundation that wishes to remain anonymous. The researchers had no financial conflicts to disclose.
Source: Chen C et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021 Aug 18. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.08.015.