Postpartum contraception: the New Mexico Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System

To examine factors associated with postpartum contraception, including the relationship between ethnicity and postpartum contraceptive use.

We used data from the New Mexico Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, which monitors selected maternal events occurring before, during and after pregnancy.

Our findings in 4096 women revealed that women who are aged >or=35 years, unmarried and lacking a postpartum visit have increased risk of no postpartum contraception. The odds of postpartum contraception were over three times greater in women with a postpartum visit [adjusted odds ratio (OR)=3.06, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.17-4.31) and over 50% greater in married women (adjusted OR=1.57, 95% CI: 1.16-2.11). Hispanic women were more likely than were Native Americans to use postpartum contraception (OR=1.25, 95% CI: 0.95-1.64).

Focused contraception counseling, especially in the postpartum setting, is important to help ensure the well-being of women and children.