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OBJECTIVES To systematically review the literature to determine which interventions improve the screening, diagnosis or treatment of cervical cancer for racial and/or ethnic minorities. DATA SOURCES Medline on OVID, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Cochrane Systematic Reviews. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS We searched the above databases for original articles published in English with at least one intervention designed to improve cervical cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis or treatment that linked participants to the healthcare system; that focused on US racial and/or ethnic minority populations; and that measured health outcomes. Articles were reviewed to determine the population, intervention(s), and outcomes. Articles published through August 2010 were included. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS One author rated the methodological quality of each of the included articles. The strength of evidence was assessed using the criteria developed by the GRADE Working Group.45,46 RESULTS Thirty-one studies were included. The strength of evidence is moderate that telephone support with navigation increases the rate of screening for cervical cancer in Spanish- and English-speaking populations; low that education delivered by lay health educators with navigation increases the rate of screening for cervical cancer for Latinas, Chinese Americans and Vietnamese Americans; low that a single visit for screening for cervical cancer and follow up of an abnormal result improves the diagnosis and treatment of premalignant disease of the cervix for Latinas; and low that telephone counseling increases the diagnosis and treatment of premalignant lesions of the cervix for African Americans. LIMITATIONS Studies that did not focus on racial and/or ethnic minority populations may have been excluded. In addition, this review excluded interventions that did not link racial and ethnic minorities to the health care system. While inclusion of these studies may have altered our findings, they were outside the scope of our review. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OF KEY FINDINGS Patient navigation with telephone support or education may be effective at improving screening, diagnosis, and treatment among racial and ethnic minorities. Research is needed to determine the applicability of the findings beyond the populations studied.

Although serum levels were lower for buccal compared with the vaginal routes, the three routes produced similar uterine tone and activity. Rectal administration produced lower uterine tone and activity. Vaginal serum levels were two to three and a half times higher than those observed in prior misoprostol pharmacokinetic studies.

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Objective To determine if a counseling intervention using the principles of motivational interviewing (MI) would impact uptake of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) after abortion. Methods We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing an MI-based contraception counseling intervention to only non-standardized counseling. Sixty women 15-29 years-old were randomized. Primary outcome: uptake of LARC within four weeks of abortion. Secondary outcomes: uptake of any effective contraceptive, contraceptive use three months after abortion and satisfaction with counseling. Bivariate analysis was used to compare outcomes. Results In the intervention arm, 65.5% of participants received a long-acting method within four weeks compared to 32.3% in the control arm (p=0.01). Three months after the abortion, differences in LARC use endured (60.0% vs. 30.8%, p=0.05). Uptake and use of any effective method were not statistically different. More women in the intervention arm reported satisfaction with their counseling than women in the control arm (92.0% vs. 65.4%, p=0.04). Conclusion Twice as many women in the MI-based contraception counseling intervention initiated and continued to use LARC compared to women who received only non-standardized counseling. Practice Implications A contraception counseling session using the principles and skills of motivational interviewing has the potential to impact LARC use after abortion.

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Study Objective To compare culturally relevant factors associated with ever having used an effective method of contraception among a cohort of predominantly Mexican American females. Design Face to face interviews were conducted in either English or Spanish. The survey used was developed directly for this study based on qualitative research with this population as well as the existing literature. Women were grouped as either adolescents (ages 13–20) or young adults (ages 21–25) for study purposes. Setting Two community-based outpatient clinics on Chicago’s West Side. Participants Non-pregnant Latina females between 13–25 years of age. Main Outcome Measures Comparison of familial, cultural and psychosocial factors associated with use of effective contraception using bivariate and multivariable analyses. Results Final analysis included 267 participants. Multivariable models yielded three factors found to be statistically significant predictors of effective contraception use, but only one was significant for both age groups. Number of children was a strong predictor of effective contraceptive use among both Latina adolescents and young adults (P < 0.001 for adolescents and P = 0.049 for young adults). Partner communication predicted effective contraceptive use among Latina adolescents (P = 0.001). Acculturation level strongly predicted effective contraceptive use among Latina young adults (P < 0.001). Conclusions Findings demonstrate the need to tailor messages to Latina adolescent and young adults to reduce unintended pregnancy. Interventions to improve effective contraceptive use among Latina adolescents should promote effective forms of contraception in conjunction with communication with their partners about birth control. In contrast, efforts to address unintended pregnancy among Latina young adults should be sensitive to degree of acculturation.

Postplacental intrauterine device (IUD) placement, defined as IUD placement within 10 min after delivery of the placenta, is an appealing strategy for increasing access to postpartum IUDs because it does not require a separate postpartum visit. These guidelines present an evidence-based assessment of postplacental IUD placement after vaginal and cesarean delivery. Postplacental IUD insertion is safe and does not have higher risks of complications than interval insertion. Most studies find that the risk of IUD expulsion is higher after postplacental insertion than after interval insertion for both vaginal and cesarean deliveries. Most studies find higher rates of expulsion after vaginal delivery than after cesarean delivery. However, expulsion rates vary widely across studies, without clear evidence about the factors that may influence expulsion. In settings where replacement of expelled IUDs is available, patient populations with low rates of return for the postpartum visit are most likely to benefit from provision of postplacental IUD placement with appropriate counseling about risks and benefits.