Talking all the time?: Young adult women's contraceptive information seeking behaviors and perceptions

Relatively little is known about health information-seeking behaviors related to contraceptives and contraceptive use. This study examined how 18-30 year old women seek contraceptive information, the sources women use for information on contraceptives, and the knowledge they have related to contraceptives. Eighteen focus groups were conducted with 18-30 year old women (N = 106) in a Midwestern state. Participants were asked about their knowledge and information-seeking related to contraceptives. Focus groups were audio taped, transcribed, and analyzed for major themes. Findings suggest that women have limited knowledge about contraceptive methods. Women exhibited misunderstandings of how contraceptives prevent pregnancy, how long they last, possible side effects, and the process required to obtain them. Women reported they had sought information about contraceptives from health care providers, family members, and friends. Family members, particularly mothers, were cited as the most useful source of information. Women also claimed they talked about contraceptives with friends “all the time.” Finally, while none of the women reported seeking contraceptive information on the internet, the majority of women reported they preferred this source of information. Approximately ¼ of women indicated that a social networking site would be a preferred source of information on contraceptives. Public health implications include providing women with information about contraceptives, encouraging health care providers and public health practitioners to facilitate women's information seeking from family and friends, and engaging health care providers and public health practitioners in the design of websites and social networking pages that provide useful and accurate information about contraceptives.