'I don't know enough to feel comfortable using them:' Women's knowledge of and perceived barriers to long-acting reversible contraceptives on a college campus
Autor: | Melissa K. Zochowski, Kelli Stidham Hall, Sneha Challa, Vanessa K. Dalton, Elizabeth J. Ela, Amy Caldwell, Michelle H. Moniz, Monique Steel, Susan D. Ernst, Laura McAndrew |
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Rok vydání: | 2015 |
Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
Health Knowledge Attitudes Practice Adolescent Universities Sexual Behavior Population Long-acting reversible contraception Psychological intervention Health Promotion Intrauterine device Article 03 medical and health sciences Young Adult 0302 clinical medicine Surveys and Questionnaires Medicine Humans 030212 general & internal medicine education Contraception Behavior education.field_of_study 030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine business.industry Public health Obstetrics and Gynecology United States Health promotion Contraception Reproductive Medicine Family planning Family medicine Multivariate Analysis Linear Models Female business Developed country Social psychology Intrauterine Devices |
Zdroj: | Contraception. 93(6) |
ISSN: | 1879-0518 |
Popis: | To assess multiple dimensions of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) knowledge and perceived multi-level barriers to LARC use among a sample of college women.We conducted an Internet-based study of 1982 female undergraduates at a large mid-western university. Our 55-item survey used a multi-level framework to measure young women's understanding of, experiences with intrauterine devices (IUD) and implants and their perceived barriers to LARC at individual, health systems and community levels. The survey included a 20-item knowledge scale. We estimated and compared LARC knowledge scores and barriers using descriptive, bivariate and linear regression statistics.Few college women had used (5%) or heard of (22%) LARC, and most self-reported "little" or "no" knowledge of IUDs (79%) and implants (88%). Women answered 50% of LARC knowledge items correctly (mean 10.4, range 0-20), and scores differed across sociodemographic groups (p values.04). Factors associated with scores in multivariable models included race/ethnicity, program year, sorority participation, religious affiliation and service attendance, employment status, sexual orientation and contraceptive history. Perceived barriers to IUDs included the following: not wanting a foreign object in body (44%), not knowing enough about the method (42%), preferring a "controllable" method (42%), cost (27%), and not being in a long-term relationship (23%). Implant results were similar. "Not knowing enough" was women's primary reason for IUD (18%) and implant (22%) nonuse.Lack of knowledge (both perceived and actual) was the most common barrier among many perceived individual-, systems- and community-level factors precluding these college women's LARC use. Findings can inform innovative, multi-level interventions to improve understanding, acceptability and uptake of LARC on campuses.Lack of knowledge of IUDs and implants served as a primary barrier to highly effective contraceptive use among these college women. Comprehensive, patient-centered and multi-level educational public health strategies are needed to promote positive campus climates around LARC and improve family planning outcomes among this substantial reproductive-aged population. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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