Celeste A. Lemay, RN, BSN¹, Suzanne Cashman, ScD², Deborah Robbins, LCSW³, Deborah Rana, MD³, and Dianne S. Elfenbein, MD⁴. (1) Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Massachusetts Medical School - Worcester, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, 508-856-6470, celeste.lemay@umassmed.edu, (2) Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Ave North, Worcester, MA 01655, (3) Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, (4) Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655

Between 17% and 35% of adolescent mothers become pregnant within one year of delivery of their first child. Subsequent births have been associated with adverse consequences for both mother and infant. While use of long-acting contraceptives has been shown to be effective in delaying subsequent pregnancies in adolescent mothers, little is known about adolescent mothers who make frequent changes (defined as two or more) in contraceptive methods during the first postpartum year. Data from a longitudinal demonstration project that provides comprehensive care to teen mothers and their infants were collected through 1) extensive interviews one to four months after delivery, 2) follow-up interviews at approximately 12 months postpartum, and 3) medical chart audit. Characteristics of adolescent mothers who changed contraceptive methods infrequently (no more than once in the first postpartum year) and frequently were examined. Preliminary analyses show that at 12-months, a higher proportion of infrequent changers had graduated from high school or were pursuing school full-time. These mothers were less transient, claimed fewer lifetime sexual partners, had more experience with birth control prior to index pregnancy, and reported receiving greater support from their baby’s father at the time of birth than mothers who changed methods more than once. They were also more likely to keep their clinic appointments. The average number of contraceptive changes for frequent changers was 2.7. Infrequent changers experienced lower rates of repeat pregnancies compared to frequent changers (6% and 18%, respectively). Further study of young women who are frequent changers of contraceptive method is warranted.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand patterns of contraceptive use among teen mothers in the first postpartum year.
• Identify possible predictors for frequent change in contraceptive methods among teen mothers in the first year postpartum.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.