2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

Home Events & Meetings Annual Meeting Schedule & Program

Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

326612
Knowledge and attitudes about long-acting reversible contraception among female school-based health center patients: A pilot survey


Monday, November 2, 2015

Andrea Hoopes, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Kym Ahrens, MD, MPH, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Kelly Gilmore, MPH, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Janet Cady, MN, ARNP, School-Based Health Program, Neighborcare Health, Seattle, WA
Wren Haaland, MPH, Center for Child Health, Behavior, and Development, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA
Anne-Marie Amies-Oelschlager, MD, University of Washington Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington
Sarah Prager, MD, UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Background:

Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) is a key teen pregnancy prevention strategy. Varying knowledge and attitudes about LARC may influence adolescents’ utilization of these methods. The purpose of this study was to examine determinants of knowledge and acceptability of LARC among a female school-based health center (SBHC) patient population.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, female patients of two SBHCs in Seattle, Washington took an electronic survey about sexual and contraception history, LARC knowledge, and LARC acceptability. Analyses included univariate and multivariate regression.

Results:

102 students completed the survey (mean age: 16.7 years, range 14.4-19.1). Participants were 28% Hispanic, 28% white, and 18% African American. The majority of respondents (70.6%) had heard of at least one LARC method. 15.7% reported current or prior LARC use and were significantly more likely to report having had vaginal sex than those without LARC experience. (OR 6.8; 95% CI 1.3, 34.5). Of students who answered all 10 LARC knowledge questions (n=68), the average score was 5.9/10. A lower knowledge score was associated with non-white race (coef =-2.4; -3.9, -0.8), no prior sexual activity (coef = -3.1; -4.5, -1.6), and never having used LARC (coef = -2.3; -4.2, -0.3). Participants who reported history of vaginal sex were more likely to report LARC acceptability (OR 4.1; 1.4, 12.2).

Conclusions:

Knowledge of LARC was low in this diverse sample of female SBHC patients. Sexually active and white youth reported greater knowledge and acceptability of LARC, suggesting an unmet need for LARC counseling among sexually inexperienced and minority young women.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning

Learning Objectives:
Identify determinants of knowledge and acceptability of LARC methods among a diverse female school-based health center patient population

Keyword(s): Contraception, School-Based Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have masters-level public health training and experience with school-based health program evaluation and reproductive health services. I also have experience with qualitative methodology and contributed to study design, data collection, analysis, and manuscript preparation.
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.

Back to: 3217.0: Contraception