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Contraceptive dispensing and selection in school-based health centers
M J Zimmer-Gembeck1, L S Doyle, J A Daniels
1Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA. zimm0225@tc.umn.edu
Purpose:
To determine whether initiation of on-site dispensing of hormonal contraceptives (oral contraceptive pill, Depo-provera, and Norplant) in six urban school-based health centers reduced time to initial selection, and increased their consistent use among sexually active females.
Methods:
Participants were sexually active females who received family planning care in a school year before (1994-1995 cohort) or after (1996-1997 cohort) the initiation of on-site dispensing. Data on contraception and sexual behavior were collected at each family planning visit. Cohorts were compared using Student's t-tests and Chi-square tests, analysis of covariance, and logistic regression.
Results:
About 59% of the 1994-1995 cohort selected hormonal contraceptives at the first or second visit; this increased to 72% of the 1996-1997 cohort (chi(2) = 11.3; p <.001). After adjustment for cohort differences, the 1996-1997 cohort consistently selected hormonal contraceptives a longer period of time, although the difference did not reach statistical significance (adjusted means: 1994-1995 cohort = 73 days, 1996-1997 cohort = 81 days; t = 1.6, p <.10).
Conclusion:
Sexually active females receiving family planning care select methods of hormonal contraception sooner and somewhat more consistently when the clinics in their high schools can dispense contraceptives on-site.
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