Consistency between most important reasons for using contraception and current method used: the influence of health care providers

Lamvu, Georgine; Steiner, Markus J.; Condon, Sean; Hartmann, Katherine

doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2005.10.007

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Volume 73, Issue 4 , Pages 399-403, April 2006

Consistency between most important reasons for using contraception and current method used: the influence of health care providers

Georgine Lamvu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- The Center for Women's Health Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Corresponding author. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Tel.: +1 919 966 7764; fax: +1 919 966 5833.
Markus J. Steiner
- Family Health International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
Sean Condon
- Family Health International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27709, USA
Katherine Hartmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- The Center for Women's Health Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA

Received 3 August 2005; received in revised form 25 September 2005; accepted 10 October 2005. published online 16 January 2006.

Abstract

Objective

To identify factors related to consistency between women's “most important” reason for using contraception and their current contraceptive method.

Methods

A sample of 433 women completed a written questionnaire on demographics, contraceptive use history and the “most important” reason for using contraception. Women were grouped by whether their current contraceptive method “agreed” or “disagreed” with their “most important” reason for contracepting. Multivariable regression was used to identify factors associated with consistency between stated “most important” reason and current method used (“agreed”).

Results

Current contraceptive method was inconsistent with the “most important” reason for using a method in 25% of women. Demographic characteristics and knowledge of contraceptive effectiveness did not differ between the “agreed” and “disagreed” groups. Women using a method consistent with their reason were more likely to have discussed contraception with a health care provider (RR=1.59, 95% CI 1.13–2.25) even after adjusting for source of contraceptive method or source of contraceptive information (RR=1.57, 95% CI 1.10–2.23).

Conclusion

Contact with a health care provider was the only factor associated with consistency between birth control method and reasons for initiating contraception. This association appears to be independent of knowledge about contraceptive effectiveness.

Keywords: Contraceptive use, Current contraceptive method, Health care providers