Reasons for ineffective pre-pregnancy contraception use in patients seeking abortion services
Received 12 December 2008; received in revised form 21 May 2009; accepted 22 May 2009. published online 13 July 2009.
Abstract
Background
We sought to better understand reasons for not obtaining desired contraception among women presenting for a pregnancy termination.
Study Design
A survey was completed by women prior to having an abortion procedure. Reasons for lack of access were categorized as institutional, individual and compliance issues. Descriptive statistics were calculated and variables compared using χ2 tests.
Results
Participants (n=298) ranged in age from 18 to 48 years. One third reported contraceptive use prior to pregnancy (37%). Approximately 72% of women reported some reason for not obtaining desired contraception, while 34% reported two or more. The distribution of reported individual, institutional, and compliance reasons were 44%, 28%, and 24%, respectively. Report of at least one reason was associated with a 35% increase in non-use (RR=1.35; 95% CI, 1.02–1.80) after adjusting for age, race, education, parity, and prior abortion.
Conclusions
Many reasons for not obtaining desired contraception exist and are associated with non-use of contraception. Removing these reasons may help reduce unintended pregnancies and rates of pregnancy termination.
Division of Clinical Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
Corresponding author. Division of Clinical Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8219, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. Tel.: +1 314 747 6434; fax: +1 314 747 4019.
ABSTRACT