PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Anusha Reddy
AU  - Margaret Watson
AU  - Philip Hannaford
AU  - Karen Lefevre
AU  - Dolapo Ayansina
TI  - Provision of hormonal and long-acting reversible contraceptive services by general practices in Scotland, UK (2004–2009)
AID  - 10.1136/jfprhc-2012-100477
DP  - 2014 Jan 01
TA  - Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care
PG  - 23--29
VI  - 40
IP  - 1
4099  - http://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/40/1/23.short
4100  - http://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/40/1/23.full
SO  - J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care2014 Jan 01; 40
AB  - Background In the UK, a large proportion of contraceptive services are provided from general practice. However, little is known about which contraceptive services are provided and to whom. Study design Descriptive serial cross-sectional study of women aged 12–55 years, registered with 191 general practices in Scotland, UK between 2004 and 2009. Results Annual incidence of provision of hormonal and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) increased from 27.7% in 2004 to 30.1% in 2009. Amongst those women registered with a general practice for the full 5-year period the provision of LARCs increased from 8.8% to 12.5% (p<0.001). For the same group, the provision of emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) decreased from 5.2% to 2.6% (p<0.001). Conclusions With the exception of EHC, there was an increase over time in the provision of hormonal contraceptives and LARCs from general practices. It is important that a full range of contraceptive options remains easily available to women.