PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Nathaniel Henry AU - Max Schlueter AU - Julia Lowin AU - Ingrid Lekander AU - Anna Filonenko AU - James Trussell AU - Finn Egil Skjeldestad TI - Cost of unintended pregnancy in Norway: a role for long-acting reversible contraception AID - 10.1136/jfprhc-2014-100878 DP - 2015 Apr 01 TA - Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care PG - 109--115 VI - 41 IP - 2 4099 - http://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/41/2/109.short 4100 - http://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/41/2/109.full SO - J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care2015 Apr 01; 41 AB - Objectives The objective of this study was to quantify the cost burden of unintended pregnancies (UPs) in Norway, and to estimate the proportion of costs due to imperfect contraceptive adherence. Potential cost savings that could arise from increased uptake of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) were also investigated. Methods An economic model was constructed to estimate the total number of UPs and associated costs in women aged 15–24 years. Adherence-related UP was estimated using ‘perfect use’ and ‘typical use’ contraceptive failure rates. Potential savings from increased use of LARC were projected by comparing current costs to projected costs following a 5% increase in LARC uptake. Results Total costs from UP in women aged 15–24 years were estimated to be 164 million Norwegian Kroner (NOK), of which 81.7% were projected to be due to imperfect contraceptive adherence. A 5% increase in LARC uptake was estimated to generate cost savings of NOK 7.2 million in this group. Conclusions The cost of UP in Norway is substantial, with a large proportion of this cost arising from imperfect contraceptive adherence. Increased LARC uptake may reduce the UP incidence and generate cost savings for both the health care payer and contraceptive user.