• Ann M Dozier, Alice Nelson, Elizabeth A Brownell, Cynthia R Howard, and Ruth A Lawrence.
• 1 Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester , Rochester, New York.
• J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2014 Mar 1; 23 (3): 224230224-30.

BackgroundDepot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is often administered immediately postpartum to reduce the risk of short-interval repeat or unintended pregnancies, but little is known about the actual patterns of postpartum DMPA use. This article examines the patterns of DMPA administered among low-income new mothers in an upstate New York State community.MethodsMothers attending urban pediatric practices (births 2009-2011) completed a mailed survey approximately 5 months after delivery. Among 83 survey items were questions about breastfeeding and timing of DMPA receipt.ResultsUnintended pregnancy was reported by 48.8% of the subjects. Their deliveries occurred across four local hospitals. Among the 31.3% of subjects who received postpartum DMPA, 62.6% received it prior to hospital discharge. Those receiving in-hospital DMPA (n=127) were significantly more likely than other mothers to be black, older, urban dwelling, non-high school graduates, multiparous, and planning to formula feed. Administration patterns differed by hospital.ConclusionsThis study of postpartum DMPA administration among a convenience sample of low-income mothers demonstrated rates of 26% overall, but there was between-hospital variability. Additional study may identify approaches to ensure timely administration to appropriate candidates.

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