Feasibility of a Contraception Intervention for Hospitalized Adolescents and Young Adults

Unintended pregnancy in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) is linked with negative outcomes. We sought to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a contraception intervention in the pediatric hospital.

We conducted a pilot study of hospitalized AYA females aged 14 to 21 years who reported past or anticipated sexual activity. A health educator offered a tablet-based intervention to provide contraception education and medications, if desired. We assessed feasibility (ie, intervention completion, duration, disruption to care), acceptability (ie, proportion rating as acceptable or satisfactory) among AYAs, parents or guardians, and healthcare providers, as well as preliminary efficacy (eg, contraception uptake) at enrollment and 3-month follow up.

We enrolled 25 AYA participants; mean age was 16.4 ± 1.5 years. The intervention demonstrated high feasibility as all enrolled participants (n = 25, 100%) completed the intervention and median intervention duration was 32 (interquartile range 25-45) minutes. Among 11 nurses, 82% (n = 9) reported the intervention was not at all or minimally disruptive to their workflow. All AYAs were very or somewhat satisfied with the intervention and 88% (n = 7) of 8 parents and guardians surveyed felt it was acceptable for the educator to meet privately with their child. Eleven participants (44%) started hormonal contraception, most commonly the subdermal implant (n = 7, 64%), and 23 (92%) received condoms.

Our findings support the feasibility and acceptability of our contraception intervention in the pediatric hospital resulting in contraception uptake among AYAs. Efforts to expand access to contraception are important to reduce unintended pregnancy, especially as restrictions to abortion are increasing in some states.