Why are US women not using long-acting contraceptives?

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Contraception Research
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), such as hormonal implants and injectables, are highly effective but underutilized in the U.S.
• Understanding reasons for low uptake is crucial for developing strategies to reduce unintended pregnancies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine women's reasons for not using hormonal implants or injectables.
• To assess women's intentions to use these methods in the future.
• To identify demographic and social factors influencing non-use and future intentions.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the 1993 and 1995 National Survey of Women.
• Logistic regression models to identify predictors of non-use and intention to use.

Main Results:

• Less than 2% used implants and under 3% used injectables in 1995.
• Primary reasons for non-use: lack of knowledge, fear of side effects, and satisfaction with current methods.
• Demographic factors (age, education, marital status, parity) influenced reasons for non-use and future intentions.

Conclusions:

• Low current use and intention to use LARCs question their future promise.
• Specific subgroups show potential for increased uptake with targeted interventions to address misperceptions.