Abstract
Objectives
This paper aims to analyze usage rates for the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP)
among women living in the city of São Paulo and their associated factors.
Study design
A population based cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2015 with a probabilistic
sample of 4,000 women aged 15 to 44 living in São Paulo, Brazil. Response rate for
households was 75% and 77% for eligible women. Binary logistic regression models were
used to describe the association between each outcome and selected variables.
Results
A total of 51.4% of women living in the city of São Paulo had used ECP at least once
in their lifetime. Women under 35 were more likely to use ECP, as were those with
more than 9 years of schooling, having at least one live birth, not cohabiting with
a partner, with more than two lifetime sexual partners and as length of sexual life
decreased. Among ECP users, 32.6% used it only once, 47.5% used it 2 to 4 times, and
19.9% used it 5 or more times.
Conclusions
Our findings suggest that ECPs have been incorporated into the contraceptive method
mix for many women as a fundamental strategy for regulating fertility. Particularly
young women, unmarried women and those who have had more partners seem to take greater
advantage of ECP to prevent pregnancy.
Implications
Despite the high use rate, lower levels of schooling are associated with lower levels
of ECP use. There is a need for both policies to reduce schooling inequities and strategies
to improve women's knowledge of reproduction and contraception.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 02, 2021
Accepted:
June 27,
2021
Received in revised form:
June 23,
2021
Received:
February 25,
2021
Footnotes
Research project was supported by DECIT/MINISTÉRIO DA SAÚDE/FAPESP/PPSUS # 2014/50115-1.
Identification
Copyright
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