Background: More than a quarter of pregnancies worldwide are unintended, contributing to large numbers of death for women and many abortions. Nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended, even though long-acting, reversible methods of contraception are available. Unintended pregnancy can cause significant harm for families and communities – emotional, social and economic. It is associated with an increased risk of morbidity for woman and serious complications for the infant. Foreground: In 2009 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the state of Illinois had a 43% rate of unintended pregnancy. Modern methods of contraception, such as the hormonal IUD, offer women freedom to plan their families and result in significant improvements in social and economic well-being. Evidence-Based Practice Framework: This project introduced the evidence-based information to the health care providers of a women’s health clinic, regarding the use of hormonal IUD for the nulliparous woman. To improve quality, the following models and theories were utilized: Rosswurm and Larrabee’s model, the ACE-Star model, and von Bertalanffy’s general systems theory. Methods: The evidence-based practice protocols were introduced to the health care providers regarding the FDA-approved use of the hormonal IUD for nulliparous women of child bearing age for contraception. Clinical practice guidelines were utilized to facilitate the process. The providers and billing clerks were contacted on a monthly basis for the purpose enhanced communication and data collection. Findings/Results: Introducing the best evidence to a group of health care providers generated an increase in the number of hormonal IUDs that were inserted for nulliparous women. Each month of the project resulted in several women who received an effective, long-term and reveraible method for contraception. Recommendations: Recommendations are to share the information with health care providers by including it in continued education seminars and publishing the findings in professional magazines. The goal is that more nulliparous and multiparous women will be offered the opportunity to use the hormonal IUD for contraception. Wider usage of more effective, safe and reversible contraception will results in social and economic beenfits for society.
