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Abstract #158686

Daniel Grossman, MD¹, Leticia Fernandez, PhD², Kristine Hopkins, PhD³, Jon Amastae, PhD², Kari White, MA, MPH⁴, and Joseph Potter, PhD³. (1) Ibis Reproductive Health, c/o Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Francisco General Hospital--Ward 6D, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110, 415-206-4394, dgrossman@ibisreproductivehealth.org, (2) Center for Inter-American and Border Studies, University of Texas at El Paso, 1514 Hawthorne St., El Paso, TX 79902, (3) Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin, 1800 Main Building, Austin, TX 78712, (4) Department of Sociology, Population Research Center, University of Texas-Austin, 1 University Station, G1800, Austin, TX 78712

Fear of side effects and previous negative experiences are common reasons for contraceptive non-use. We collected information about contraceptive use and perceptions of oral contraceptive (OC) safety from 1,271 women 18-49 years old recruited at malls in El Paso, Texas, to better understand factors associated with safety perceptions. Methods used included 19.9% hormonals, 11.2% non-hormonals, 2.8% IUD, 27.5% sterilization, and 38.7% used no method. Older and parous women were more likely to use the IUD or sterilization, and Spanish-speakers more likely to use no method compared to hormonals (p<0.05). Among women not using combined-hormonal methods (n=1,056), only 42.7% said OCs were medically safe for them. Reasons given for OCs being unsafe related to fears of side effects and prior negative experiences rather than true contraindications. Young and more educated women and those recruited in a more wealthy area were more likely to think OCs were safe, while Spanish-speakers were more likely to think them unsafe (p<0.05). Among non-users or non-hormonal users and potential OC candidates (n=601), 60.2% said they would be more likely to use OCs if they were available over-the-counter (OTC). In regression analysis, OTC interest was higher among non-contraceptive-users (p<0.05), those recruited at the more wealthy site (p<0.05), and young women (p=0.05). Despite the negative perceptions of OC safety in this population, interest in OTC access was high. More education about the safety and health benefits of hormonal contraception is needed. OTC availability might contribute to more positive safety perceptions of OCs compared to a prescription environment.

Learning Objectives:

• Articulate the negative perceptions regarding the safety of oral contraceptives among this population
• List the reasons why women say oral contraceptives are medically unsafe for them
• Recognize the interest in over-the-counter access to oral contraceptives among this population

Keywords: Contraception, Latinas

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.