Inconsistent contraceptive use among female college students: implications for intervention

The authors evaluated the longitudinal consistency of use of contraceptive and barrier methods among female college students attending a student health clinic. The majority of students using unreliable methods of contraception during follow-up did not report unreliable contraceptive use at the baseline observation. Of 213 women who participated, 33% used unreliable contraception; 9% only at baseline, 14% only during 6-month follow-up, and 9% at both. Selection of a contraceptive method varied considerably over time. Of those using the oral contraceptive pill at baseline, 31% did not use this method during follow-up, and 43% of those using condoms at baseline had intercourse without a condom during follow-up. Single observations are inadequate to detect unreliable contraceptive use in this population; cross-sectional studies will fail to detect important transitions in contraceptive use. Interventions to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease among female college students should include a focus on the consistency of contraceptive use.