183754 Contraceptive use and health literacy among women presenting with abnormal cervical cancer screens in Chicago

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 5:00 PM

Melissa A. Simon, MD, MPH , Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University, ARCC Steering Committee Member, Chicago, IL
Talar Markossian, MPH , Health Policy and Administration, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, Chicago, IL
Phyllis Ferguson-Collum, MSW , Health Policy and Administration, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, Chicago, IL
Julia Shklovskaya, MPPA , Administrative Offices: Research Department, Access Community Heatlh Network, Chicago, IL
Julie Darnell, MHSA, PhD , School of Public Health, Division of Health Policy and Administration, University of Illinois, Chicago, Chicago, IL
Charles Bennett, MD, PhD, MPH , Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Elizabeth Calhoun, PhD , School of Public Health, Division of Health Policy and Administration, University of Illinois, Chicago, Chicago, IL
Background: Many low income women of reproductive age face multiple barriers to contraceptive use- including knowledge. These women obtain pap smears annually presenting a window of opportunity to address contraception. We highlight current contraceptive use and health literacy among women with abnormal paps.

Methods: We report preliminary data within the context of the Chicago Cancer Navigation Project (CCNP) among a cohort of underserved women at a community clinic identified with an abnormal pap.

Results: 85 participants ranged in age from 18-45. 77 were Black, 7 Hispanic, and 1 White. 88% had income below $19,000. 25 (29%) reported education of some high school and 1 reported less than eighth grade. Using REALM-66, 41 (48%) had literacy levels eighth grade or below; and 44 (52%) had literacy levels above eighth grade. Among low literacy women: 54% were not using contraception; 6 used condoms; 5 had tubal ligations; 2 used injections; 3 used pills; and 2 used the patch. Among high literacy women: 39% were not using contraception; 9 used condoms; 9 used injections; 3 used pills; and 2 had IUDs. 9 high literacy women reported using dual protection with condoms. 3/85 (4%) had ever used emergency contraception. We will present incoming data at the conference.

Conclusion: Women with low literacy were more likely to present with no use of contraception and fewer long-term contraceptive methods. Only high literacy women reported dual protection. These data highlight the importance of addressing contraceptive use and health literacy among reproductive age women presenting for cancer screens.

Learning Objectives:
1. To assess the role of health literacy in contraceptive use. 2. To describe the use of contraception among women with abnormal cervical cancer screens within the context of literacy. 3. To recognize the importance of addressing health literacy in health education and provider-patient communication among low income women.

Keywords: Health Literacy, Contraception

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am conducting this research under the auspices of my NIH career development award in Women's Reproductive Health Research as a faculty member of Northwestern University
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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