Residential care centers for persons with intellectual disability in Israel: trends in contraception methods 1999-2006.

BACKGROUND

The past 100 years has revealed a controversial history around the menstrual and contraceptive management of women with intellectual disability in residential care settings. The present study was conducted to examine the trends of contraceptive methods for females with intellectual disability in residential care centers in Israel.

MATERIAL/

METHODS

An annual survey of all medical clinics in residential care centers in Israel has been conducted since 1998 by the Office of the Medical Director of the Ministry of Social Affairs and data were extracted from the national surveys for 1999-2006.

RESULTS

In the 1999-2006 period, 11-16% of females in residential care centers in Israel used oral or injected contraceptives. Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) was the most used method due to its convenience and effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

It is recommended that a more detailed study of contraceptive methods be conducted in Israel to get a clearer picture since the data collected from annual surveys only give a rudimentary picture of the actual situation in the field.