"IUD Insertion Practices in the United States and Puerto Rico, 1973."

Abstract

Retrospective reports on IUD insertions during the first 6 months of 1973 were provided by 16893 physicians residing in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. This was 48.9% of the physicians listed in the master files of the American Medical Association and the American Osteopathic Association as having an interest in obstetrics and gynecology public health general preventive medicine or family practice. Information elicited by interviews with 1% of the nonrespondents mirrored that of the respondents. It is estimated that in the 6-month period there were 810000 IUD insertions. Regional rates varied from a high of 27.3/1000 in parts of the West to 11.8-12.4/1000 in the Midwest. The rate for the nation was 18/1000. The percentage of nonprivate patients receiving IUDs varied substantially by region too. 85% of all insertions were do ne by physicians; 6% by paramedical personnel. 90% of the physician-inserted IUDs were by doctors whose primary specialty was obstetrics-gynecology and more than 75% were by doctors engaged in direct patient care. Rates of insertion by individual physicians varied greatly. 1% of the obstetricians-gynecologists averaged more than 8 insertions a week.