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Improving contraceptive use in the United States
Issues in Brief (Alan Guttmacher Institute)
|June 19, 2008
Summary
Many adult women struggle with consistent contraception use due to personal, social, and system factors. Improving contraceptive care requires addressing these complex issues through better counseling and policy changes.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Contraceptive Care
- Public Health
Background:
- Adult women spend decades attempting to avoid pregnancy, yet unintended pregnancies remain common.
- Reasons for poor contraceptive practice are multifaceted, including personal beliefs, side effect fears, partner influence, and systemic issues.
- Adult women's contraceptive challenges are understudied compared to adolescents, despite accounting for most unintended pregnancies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate adult women's contraceptive experiences and identify strategies for improving contraceptive use in the United States.
- To understand client-provider interactions within the contraceptive care system.
- To explore barriers and facilitators to effective contraceptive practice among adult women.
Main Methods:
- Two nationally representative surveys were conducted: one with sexually active women aged 18-44 not seeking pregnancy, and another with contraceptive service providers.
- Women's contraceptive use patterns over a one-year period were analyzed.
- Contraceptive providers described their service delivery protocols and perceptions of client difficulties with method use.
Main Results:
- Contraceptive use among adult women is complex, influenced by diverse personal and social factors.
- Client-provider interactions can sometimes impede effective contraceptive use.
- Providers identified simple changes in counseling and clinical protocols that could improve contraceptive practice.
Conclusions:
- Improving contraceptive use necessitates a comprehensive approach addressing women's motivations and experiences.
- Enhanced client-provider communication and adjusted clinical protocols can significantly aid women in preventing unintended pregnancies.
- Policy, research, and advocacy efforts are crucial to support better contraceptive care access and utilization.
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