Checklist for Screening Clients Who Want to Initiate Use of the Copper IUD

Family Health International, 2008

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Research findings over the past 25 years have established that intrauterine devices (IUDs) are safe and effective for use by most women, including those who have not given birth, who wish to space births, and those living with or at risk of HIV infection. For some women, IUD insertion is not recommended due to the presence of certain medical conditions, such as genital cancer and current cervical infection. Women who desire to use an IUD should therefore be screened for such medical conditions in order to determine if they are appropriate candidates for the IUD.

Based on the recently revised recommendations of the Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (WHO, 2004; updated 2008), Family Health International (FHI) has developed a simple checklist to help health care providers screen clients who have made an informed decision to use an IUD. The IUD Checklist consists of 21 questions designed to identify medical conditions and high-risk behaviors that would prevent safe IUD use or require further screening. It also provides further guidance and directions based on clients' responses.

Accompanying the checklist is a Training and Reference Guide designed for program managers, administrators, trainers, and service providers interested in learning on how to use the IUD Checklist to screen women who wish to have an IUD inserted. Designed to serve as both a training and reference tool, the guide is composed of two parts: a training module and a collection of essential, up-to-date reference materials on the Copper IUD.

The IUD Checklist is available in English (PDF, 181 KB), French (PDF, 131 KB), Spanish (PDF, 126 KB), Romanian (PDF, 153 KB), and Hindi (PDF, 181 KB). The Training and Reference Guide for a Screening Checklist to Initiate Use of the Copper IUD is available in English (PDF, 851 KB) and French (PDF, 1.11 MB). To request hard copies of the checklist or the guide, please send an e-mail to publications@fhi.org.

To access endorsed, country-adapted IUD Checklists, click on the following links:

• Kenya Screening Checklists for Family Planning Services
• Uganda Screening Checklists for Family Planning Services