Haylie Simmons, BSc; Nichole Austin, PhD; Daniel Dutton, PhD | Dalhousie University |
ABSTRACT –
Understanding historical variations in Canadian long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) coverage is a necessary first step in quantifying the relationship between shifts in LARC access/uptake and a range of related outcomes, including but not limited to rates of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, particularly among higher risk groups. Until 2024, LARC coverage in Canada varied from province to province with considerable heterogeneity in coverage across provinces, yet coverage data were not previously compiled. These data are necessary to facilitate high-quality analyses on the impacts of coverage. We aimed to bridge this gap by conducting a policy scan of Canadian LARC coverage. We found that every province had some level of coverage for LARCs prior to 2024, but coverage ranged from full coverage for the entire population to specific coverage for certain sub-populations. These data are designed to support future investigations of the implications of provincial LARC funding.
Citation: Simmons, H.; Austin, N.; Dutton, D. (2025). Documenting Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARC) Coverage Across Canada. Canadian Health Policy, DEC 2025. canadianhealthpolicy.com.