Contraceptive practice among New Zealand women

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Demography
• Public Health

Background:

• Contraceptive use is a key factor in reproductive health and family planning.
• Understanding national contraceptive practices is essential for public health initiatives.
• Previous data on New Zealand women's contraceptive behaviors were limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the contraceptive practices of New Zealand women in 1976.
• To identify trends in contraceptive method usage across different age groups and marital statuses.
• To understand the proportion of women at risk of pregnancy who were using contraception.

Main Methods:

• A national random probability sample of 1200 New Zealand women aged 15 years and over was surveyed in May 1976.
• Data collected included perceived risk of pregnancy and current contraceptive practices.
• Analysis focused on method usage by age, marital status, and risk of pregnancy.

Main Results:

• 93% of women aged 15-44 years considered themselves at risk of pregnancy.
• Almost half of all women surveyed, and two-thirds of those at risk, practiced contraception.
• The contraceptive pill was the most frequent method, especially among younger women, followed by sterilization, most common in women aged 25-44.

Conclusions:

• Contraceptive use was prevalent among New Zealand women at risk of pregnancy in 1976.
• The contraceptive pill and sterilization were the leading methods, with usage varying by age.
• Findings highlight the importance of accessible contraception for women of reproductive age.