176338 Prevalence and determinants of contraceptive use/non-use among foreign- and U.S.-born women in California

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Marina J. Chabot, MSc , Bixby Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy, University of California, San Francisco, Sacramento, CA
Diane Swann , Bixby Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy, University of California, San Francisco, Sacramento, CA
Carrie Lewis, MPH , Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, University of California, San Francisco, Sacramento, CA
Heike Thiel de Bocanegra, PhD, MPH , Director, UCSF Family PACT Program Support and Evaluation Bixby Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Philip Darney, MD, MSc , University of California, San Francisco, Bixby Center for Reproductive Health, Research & Policy, University of California, San Francisco, Sacramento, CA
Background: An annual telephone survey, California Women's Health Survey, provides contraceptive prevalence rates (CPR) and reasons for non-use among reproductive women ages 18-49 in California. This information is useful for programs providing contraception to California residents. Method: We compared CPR and reasons for non-use among women, according to place of birth and income. Results: CPR among women at risk of pregnancy was 77%. Among the 23% at risk and not using contraception, the main reasons given for non-use were (1) problems related to contraceptive methods, (30% cited side effects, health issues, difficulty or inconvenience), (2) misinformation (25% cited “too old” or “infrequent sex”), or (3) ambivalence (23% cited “pregnancy would be OK”). Thirteen percent cited other reasons and 8% gave no reason. Women born in Central/South America and the Caribbean were the least likely to use contraception (69%). Women born in Mexico were more likely to mention problems related to methods (43%) and were less likely to cite ambivalence (17%) or espouse misinformation (18%) as reasons for non-use when compared with U.S.-born women (26%, 25%, and 28% respectively). Women above and below 200% FPL had statistically significant difference in CPR (79% vs. 74%) and reasons for non-use (method-related: 27% vs. 34%; ambivalence: 29% vs. 14%). Conclusion: Reasons for non-use, but not CPR, differed significantly between foreign- and U.S.-born women. Significant differences in CPR and non-use were found between low and high income women. Ensuring access to all who need contraceptive services is vital to help prevent unplanned pregnancy.

Learning Objectives:
Identify the three leading reasons for non-use of contraception among women. Describe differences in contraceptive prevalence and reasons for non-contraceptive use between foreign- and U.S.-born women as well as women at or below 200% FPL. Identify the national origin(s) of women least likely to use contraception and the primary reason for their non-use.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conceptualized the idea on this abstract and initiated the data analysis and write-up.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.

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