Background Drug overdose deaths, including those involving prescription opioids and heroin, have more than quadrupled in the United States since 1999 [1]. Synthetic opioids, particularly illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF), have driven the largest increase in overdose deaths from 2014 to 2017 [2,3]. In 2015, both the DEA and the CDC issued nationwide alerts identifying illicitly manufactured fentanyl as a threat to public health and safety. In 2017, Florida heroin deaths had increased by 72% from 2014 (549 to 944) and fentanyl deaths had increased over
Background: Evidence has continued to emerge that Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is highly effective in preventing unintended pregnancies and induced abortions, but utilization of LARC remains low among US women, particularly among minority and low income women. Aims: We designed this study to develop insights into factors that can better inform urban, predominantly African American women’s decisions to use LARC.Methods: We conducted focus group interviews with women, in conjunction with a community-based organization providing programs for underserved women, in an urban southeastern U.S city with sites in predominantly African American neighborhoods. Results: Key insights from the focus group results for healthcare providers include: the importance of framing discussions with patients within the context of the patients’ goals; the need to acknowledge and respect the support systems that women rely on for child birthing and childcare; recognition of the clinician’s role as a trusted and respected source of information; and the need to understand and be prepared to address much of the inaccurate and misleading information that can interfere with the patients’ optimal choices for contraception. Discussion: A critical component for applying Implementation Science theory to increase utilization of evidence based practices such as LARC requires understanding women’s perspectives of the factors influencing their decisions to use LARC. Conclusion: This study provides important insights into: 1) the potential barriers inherent in minority women’s concerns about LARC, and 2) how these insights can inform implementation strategies such as patient centered counseling and education to overcome those barriers.
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