Combining qualitative with quantitative approaches to study contraceptive pill use.

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Contraception Research
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Oral contraceptive (OC) users experience pregnancy rates exceeding ideal use failure rates, often attributed to missed pills.
• Existing research on consistent OC pill taking lacks adequate measures and fails to explore women's subjective interpretations of their use patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand women's interpretations of consistency in their oral contraceptive pill taking.
• To combine qualitative and quantitative data for a comprehensive understanding of contraceptive use behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study in China involving 10 oral contraceptive users (urban and rural) over three cycles.
• Electronic data from novel blister packages measured pill-taking consistency.
• In-depth interviews were conducted to interpret electronic data and explore users' reasons for missed pills.

Main Results:

• Reasons for missed pills included disruptions in daily routines, partner absence, spotting, and challenges with complex family planning instructions.
• Questionnaire data indicated that demographic, psychosocial, and service system characteristics were not strongly related to missed pills.
• Rural living routines might promote consistent use, while specific pill-taking instructions may lead to prolonged pill-free intervals and skipping during spotting.

Conclusions:

• Combining qualitative and quantitative data significantly enhances the understanding of contraceptive use patterns.
• Women's self-reported reasons for contraceptive use behaviors are plausible and valuable.
• Incorporating women's perspectives into family planning programs can improve adherence and effectiveness.