Abstract
The objective of this pilot study was to examine the effectiveness of a postpartum
educational intervention aimed at increasing compliance with oral contraception (OCs)
and decreasing repeat pregnancies in young, African American women in the year following
an unplanned pregnancy. In this longitudinal study, 43 young, pregnant women attending
Prentice Ambulatory Care, Northwestern Hospital, were enrolled and 33 were randomized
to receive an antepartum, multicomponent intervention consisting of counseling, a
videotape about OCs and written material or resident-physician counseling (usual care).
Questionnaire data were collected at enrollment, immediately following the intervention,
at 6 weeks, 6 months and 12 months. At 1 year, 25 women remained in the study. More
women in the intervention group were not pregnant and still using contraception, and
were able to successfully switch contraceptive methods compared to women in the control
group. There was no decrease in repeat pregnancy in the intervention group at 1 year
compared to the control group. Our intervention resulted in a sustained increase in
knowledge of OCs throughout the study period. However, more is needed to promote postpartum
contraceptive compliance and decrease repeat pregnancies in young, low-income African
Americans with unintended pregnancies.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
December 2,
2003
Received in revised form:
October 30,
2003
Received:
September 22,
2003
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
