Abstract

Evaluating Whoops Proof Birth Control South Carolina: A pair-matched group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study

Beth Sundstrom, Ph.D., M.P.H.1, Deborah Billings, PhD2, Ellie Smith, B.S.1, Merissa Ferrara, PhD, MA1, Bill Albert3 and Katy Sullentrop, MPH4
(1)College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, (2)Choose Well: The South Carolina Contraceptive Access Campaign, Columbia, SC, (3)The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, Washington, DC, DC, (4)The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy

APHA 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 4 - Nov. 8)

Background: In South Carolina, half of all pregnancies are unintended. Choose Well, a contraceptive access initiative of the New Morning Foundation collaborated with Riggs Partners, the College of Charleston, and The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unintended Pregnancy to implement and evaluate the Whoops Proof Birth Control Campaign in South Carolina. Objectives: To determine if women (ages 18 to 29) who do not intend to become pregnant in the next year report greater awareness of and positive regard for IUDs and the implant after exposure to Whoops Proof messaging. Methods: To evaluate the Whoops Proof campaign in South Carolina, researchers used a pair-matched group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design with two intervention and two comparison counties. Matching was conducted at the level of the county. Results: A total of 1,439 women responded to the pre-test survey and 1,534 responded to the post-test survey. There were no statistically significant differences between overall demographics for the pretest and posttest. Participants in intervention counties were significantly more likely to recall messaging and to report receiving contraceptive information from Whoops Proof. Participants who saw ads more than once per week reported a significant increase in awareness of IUDs and implant. Participants in intervention counties reported a significant increase in positive attitudes toward IUDs and the implant. Conclusion: The Whoops Proof Campaign offers health communication strategies to increase awareness and positive regard for highly effective contraceptive methods. This study provides practical suggestions to campaign planners to conduct a pair-matched group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study.

Communication and informatics Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice