Abstract
Background
Discontinuation of, and change in, use of contraceptive methods contributes to high
unplanned pregnancy rates. The aims of the Contessa study were to estimate the prevalence
of and reasons for discontinuation and change and to assess the implications for preventive
intervention.
Methods
Prospective cohort study of 1091 potentially fertile women aged 18–49, carried out
during 2008, using a sample drawn from the Health Survey for England 2006, a random
probability survey of health. We carried out a baseline survey followed by three further
waves, exploring patterns of contraceptive use, characteristics of women experiencing
each, and reasons for discontinuation and change.
Findings
A percentage of 3.7 of women were at risk of unplanned pregnancy and discontinued
and/or changed a contraceptive method in a year, compared with 4.7% who were at risk
of unplanned pregnancy and used no method. Compared with continuous users, stoppers
and switchers were younger, better educated and more likely to be single. Women discontinued
or changed their contraceptive method for reasons of ease of use, reliability, side
effects or concerns over health effects. Barely a quarter of such decisions were influenced
by medical staff.
Interpretation
Effective strategies to aid contraceptive adherence have proved elusive but, if found,
could reduce unplanned pregnancy rates appreciably. Understanding of the factors contributing
to successful contraceptive practice is essential to prevention of unintended pregnancy.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 29, 2014
Accepted:
September 13,
2014
Received in revised form:
July 7,
2014
Received:
February 24,
2014
Footnotes
☆Competing interest: No authors received support from or had relationships with organisations that might have a financial interest in the submitted work with the exception of receipt by Anna Glasier of grant funding from HR Pharma, and no other relationships or activities that would have influenced the submitted work.
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
