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Norplant workshop information published

Norplant workshop information published

Future birth control technologies can gain important insights from the events surrounding the Norplant contraceptive implant, as illustrated in a new Institute of Medicine book.

Contraceptive Research, Introduction, and Use: Lessons from Norplant is the result of an April 1997 Institute of Medicine workshop that brought together a wide cross-section of researchers, physicians, policy analysts, and women's groups. Participants reviewed newly available data on Norplant's efficacy, safety, and use; identified lessons to be learned about the method's development, introduction, use, and market experience; and explored approaches to developing and introducing new contraceptives based on those lessons. (For details on the workshop, see Contraceptive Technology Update, July 1997, pp. 87-88.)

The book also contains an examination of Norplant's user populations, training for insertion and removal, and consumer perspectives, including quality of care, informed decision making, and consumer involvement. An appendix includes summaries of 17 workshop presentations.

Edited by Polly Harrison, PhD, senior program officer with the Institute of Medicine in Washing ton, DC, and Allan Rosenfield, MD, dean of the School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York City, the book costs $26 per copy if ordered by mail or phone; $20.80 through the World Wide Web.

Contact the publisher, National Academy Press, at Box 285, 2101 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20055. Telephone: (800) 624-6242 or (202) 334-3313, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Web: http://www.nap.edu.