Contraceptive Implant Use Among Inner City Teens

In 1995, a study involving 122 inner city teens in Rochester, New York, examined the use of the contraceptive implant Norplant. The participants were mainly black and Hispanic females aged 13-19, many of whom were already mothers and attending school. The study found that the retention rates for Norplant after one and two years were 71% and 62%, respectively, with the highest rates of removal occurring between 3-6 months after insertion. Teens with a history of induced abortion were more likely to keep the implant. The main reasons for discontinuing Norplant were general and social concerns, including the desire to become pregnant. The study concluded that Norplant had higher retention rates compared to other contraceptives and that a history of induced abortion was a significant predictor of longer-term use.