Knowledge, attitudes and intentions of American women regarding the hormonal implant

Less than one-half of a national sample of 20-37-year-old women surveyed in 1991 report having been aware of the hormonal contraceptive implant within the year following its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; there is considerable variation between groups of women in levels of awareness and in knowledge of the implant's attributes. Nearly one-third of the women surveyed say they intend to use such a method in the future. Subgroups with the greatest potential interest in using this method are young women, single women, those who already have a child and those who would like to postpone their next birth for several years or want to have no more children. Women who are using coital methods of contraception and those not using any method are more likely than others to express interest in using the implant. Interest in using the implant also increases with knowledge of the characteristics of this contraceptive method.