Approximately one-quarter of women in Australia have experienced an unintended pregnancy, with one-third of these ending in an abortion (1). Access to effective methods of contraception can contribute to the prevention of pregnancies, but only around 11% of women are using long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in Australia (2). Many women experience considerable barriers when accessing contraception and abortion care (3, 4).
Primary care providers play a critical role in providing contraception services and supporting pregnancy options, but the number of LARC and emergency medical abortion (EMA) providers remains low, particularly in remote and rural areas. Due to a lack of training opportunities, appropriate remuneration, access to peer and expert support, and referral pathways, many women are required to seek care outside their local area, which can pose significant financial and logistical challenges and potentially causing delays to appropriate care.
The Australian Contraception and Abortion Primary Care Practitioner Support (AusCAPPS) Network is a national and secure online community designed to support general practitioners, nurses and pharmacists in providing LARC and EMA. The network provides
The opportunity to ask questions to peers and expert clinicians
Connection to a database of general practitioners, nurses and pharmacists who provide LARC and EMA services in primary care
Access to LARC and EMA training and education opportunities
Access to clinical resources and guidelines
Evidence-based research and updates related to LARC and EMA
Access to webinars and podcasts about LARC and EMA care
Taft AJ, Shankar M, Black KI, et al. Unintended and unwanted pregnancy in Australia: a cross-sectional, national random telephone survey of prevalence and outcomes. The Medical Journal of Australia 2018;209(9):407-08. doi: 10.5694/mja17.01094
Sundaram A, Vaughan B, Kost K, et al. Contraceptive Failure in the United States: Estimates from the 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health 2017;49(1):7-16. doi: 10.1363/psrh.12017 [published Online First: 2017/03/01]
Grzeskowiak LE, Calabretto H, Amos N, et al. Changes in use of hormonal long-acting reversible contraceptive methods in Australia between 2006 and 2018: A population-based study. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2021;61(1):128-34. doi: 10.1111/ajo.13257
Munro S, Guilbert E, Wagner M-S, et al. Perspectives Among Canadian Physicians on Factors Influencing Implementation of Mifepristone Medical Abortion: A National Qualitative Study. Annals of family medicine 2020;18(5):413-21.
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