William D. Mosher, PhD¹, Anjani Chandra, PhD¹, Joyce Abma, PhD², Gladys Martinez, PhD¹, and Stephanie Willson, PhD¹. (1) NCHS/DVS/RSB, 3311 Toledo Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782, 3014584385, wdm1@cdc.gov, (2) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Presidential Building, 6525 Belcrest Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782

Introduction: Timely data on the prevalence of contraceptive and STI/HIV-preventive behaviors are crucial to the planning and evaluation of prevention programs targeted at unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. This poster presents data on contraceptive behaviors, with particular focus on condom use, among women 15-44 in the United States, based on the newly released 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). The 2002 NSFG is the sixth in a series of periodically conducted, household-based surveys of women on topics related to fertility, family formation, and reproductive health. Men 15-44 were included in the NSFG for the first time in 2002.

Data and Methods: The 2002 NSFG is based on in-person interviews with a national sample of non-institutionalized men and women 15-44 years of age. Blacks and Hispanics were oversampled. The sample data were adjusted for nonresponse and are national estimates. This research uses data on 7,643 women, whose interviews lasted an average of 85 minutes. The response rate was 79 percent. (Access procedures for the 2002 NSFG data will be described.)

Results: We describe the prevalence of contraceptive use by method type at last (vaginal) sex and first sex, as well as in the month of interview. We highlight consistency of condom use and condom use for disease prevention among those who reported recent condom use, either alone or with other methods. In addition to presenting prevalence of these behaviors among key subgroups such as age, marital status, and race/Hispanic origin, we examine their association with relationship and partner characteristics.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will identify the most commonly used contraceptive methods among key subgroups of U.S. women (e.g., age, race, Hispanic origin, marital status).
• Participants will define the prevalence of dual method use (condoms in conjunction with other contraceptive methods) among U.S. women of reproductive age.
• Participants will learn how to access the 2002 NSFG data for conducting further analyses.

Keywords: Contraception, Condom Use

Related Web page: www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg.htm

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.