Preventing Unintended Pregnancy: Eight Years of Effort at KP San Diego.

Abstract

Of our Kaiser Permanente (KP) San Diego members, 1391 had pregnancy termination in 2003. In addition, about 1700 (32%) of births to mothers who were KP members in San Diego in 2003 were the results of mistimed or unwanted pregnancies. Couples have difficulty consistently using effective contraception, and a busy health maintenance organization is challenged by the need to consistently provide excellent contraceptive education, counseling, and services to a very large at-risk population. Highly effective contraceptive methods are available, and providers of contraceptive care, together with their patients, have the tools available to dramatically reduce unintended pregnancy.