Contraception prior to counselling for termination of pregnancy

This study investigates the methods of contraception used by women attending for pregnancy counselling at the time of an unintended pregnancy.

Women attending three pregnancy counselling clinics in Birmingham were asked to fill in a questionnaire which was designed to obtain demographic data and history of women's methods of contraception, prior to attending for termination of pregnancy.

The contraceptive methods used most widely by women presenting for termination of pregnancy were the condom (n = 188; 43%) and the oral contraceptive pill (n = 96; 22%). A proportion of women did not use any contraception (n = 117; 27%). Women who had undergone a previous termination of pregnancy (32%) [corrected] had similar contraceptive patterns to those with no history of termination of pregnancy. Women aged 19 and under were less likely to be using contraception (non-users 30/90; 33%) compared with women aged 20 and over (non-users 82/324; 25%), but this difference was not statistically significant. Forty per cent (n = 31) of Afro-Caribbeans did not use any contraception; this was statistically significant when compared with the percentage of Caucasians not using contraception. Only 30% of those eligible had actually presented for post-coital emergency contraception. However, the uptake of emergency contraception was similar in the different age groups.

Effective contraception is important in the prevention of unwanted pregnancies and, although it will not prevent all conceptions, it will contribute significantly to a reduction in unintended pregnancies. This study indicates that there is a need to consider and be sensitive to the different cultural needs of ethnic groups in the development and presentation of future contraceptives.