At arms length
Stanley, B.
Idrc Reports 18(4): 18-19
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0315-9981 PMID: 12283521 DOI: 10.2307/20626350Document Number: 372683
An estimated half-million women in 15 countries are currently protected from pregnancy for a 5-year period by the Norplant contraceptive implant. Over 55,000 women from 44 countries participated in the clinical trials that preceded the introduction of Norplant. Since the insertion of the Norplant capsules requires special skill, training centers had to be organized around the world to offer a 3-day course to health personnel. Norplant is considered an ideal method for women who are not ready to terminate childbearing through sterilization, yet do not desire more children in the immediate future. The implants are particularly suited for developing countries in that regular medical supervision is not required. It is projected that, by the year 2000, there will be 4-7 million Norplant acceptors in the developed world and 15-25 million users in developing countries. IDRC is funding several studies of user satisfaction with the Norplant method. There remains a need, however, for an even wider range of contraceptive choices. Each new method that is introduced increases the chances of reaching a share of the millions of nonacceptors remaining in the world. Since the major pharmaceutical companies are abandoning contraceptive research and development out of a fear of litigation, nonprofit organizations such as the Population Council--the developer of Norplant--will have to assume this role to a greater extent than ever before.