Hormonal contraceptive prescriptions in Colombia and Zika virus

Abstract

An epidemic of Zika virus infection was reported in South and Central America and the Caribbean in 2015, with the highest proportion of cases reported in Brazil and Colombia.1 The association of an increased incidence of microcephaly in newborn babies born to mothers infected with Zika virus is worrying.2 For this reason, in mid-January, 2016, many ministries of health in the region, including Colombia, recommended families postpone the start of new pregnancies for between 6 months and 2 years, while the epidemic phase of the disease elapses.3, 4 Based on this recommendation, the rates of hormonal contraceptives prescription in a Colombian population of about 6·5 million people was investigated, resulting in a descriptive study that included all prescriptions of any contraceptive from January, 2015, to February, 2016, in women of childbearing age affiliated with the Colombian health-care system. Data were obtained from the databases of the largest drug dispenser in Colombia, Audifarma SA.