Study examines switching intentions in contraception use

According to the authors, data were collected from a probability-based sample survey conducted in Delaware and Maryland in 2016 and 2017 among women ages 18 to 44. The women’s current contraceptive methods at the time of the study were classified into five categories: coitally-dependent methods (barrier methods, withdrawal, and natural family planning); oral contraceptive pills, patches, and rings; injections; implants; and intrauterine contraception (IUC). Satisfaction, confidence, and switching intentions were dichotomized into being very versus less satisfied; being completely versus less confident; and having very low versus greater switching intentions, the authors said.

“We conducted binomial logistic regression to examine whether method type, satisfaction, and confidence were independently associated with having very low switching intentions, adjusting for a range of covariates including socio-demographics, perceived health, religious attendance frequency, sexual, contraceptive, and reproductive experiences, and state of residence,” they said.

Among 1,077 women using reversible contraception, those using IUC versus implants, pills, patches, or rings, and coitally-dependent methods were more likely to have very low switching intentions, the study authors wrote. Among all survey respondents, those who were very satisfied and those who were completely confident in correct use were also more likely to report very low switching intentions.

Based on the study participants, the authors found that using IUC, being very satisfied, and being very confident in correct use were independently associated with having very low switching intentions.

Source

Steinberg JR, Marthey D, Xie L, Boudreaux M. Contraceptive method type and satisfaction, confidence in use, and switching intentions. Contraception. 2021 Feb 20:S0010-7824(21)00051-2. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2021.02.010. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33621581.