Knowledge of non-contraceptive benefits of and willingness to consider taking oral contraceptive pills among a low-risk female population: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background

In addition to its widely-appreciated contraceptive applications, the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) conveys both oncological and non-oncological benefits. Oncological benefits include a decreased risk of endometrial, ovarian, and colorectal cancer. Non-oncological benefits include reducing androgenic effects and alleviating menstruation-related problems. This study aimed to ascertain knowledge levels of non-contraceptive benefits and risks of OCP use among participants without contraindications to OCPs. This study also assessed factors associated with participants being more likely to consider taking OCPs.

Methods

263 women aged 21 to 40 years old with no contraindications for OCP usage participated in this study. An anonymous questionnaire collected sociodemographic information and assessed participants’ knowledge of the non-contraceptive benefits and risks associated with OCP use. Multivariate linear regression was used to assess factors associated with knowledge levels. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with being more likely to consider taking OCPs among women who did not presently take them.

Results

Multivariate logistic regression revealed that participants who were more knowledgeable overall about the non-contraceptive benefits of OCPs were more likely to consider taking OCPs (coefficient = 0.184, p-value = 0.00). Knowledge of both oncological and non-oncological benefits of OCP use was relatively poor, especially among older women. Current OCP users were found to be more knowledgeable about their benefits.

Conclusions

As women with greater knowledge of non-contraceptive benefits of OCPs are more likely to consider taking them, knowledge gaps regarding OCPs should be filled, so that more women may reap the non-contraceptive benefits of OCPs.

SHORT CONDENSATION

A sample of women with a low risk profile for oral contraceptive pills in Singapore demonstrated poor overall knowledge of their non-contraceptive benefits. Greater knowledge of the non-contraceptive benefits of oral contraceptive pills was associated with a greater willingness to consider taking oral contraceptive pills.

摘要

背景

除了避孕作用以外, 口服避孕药(OCP)还具有抗肿瘤和非肿瘤益处。抗肿瘤的益处包括降低子宫内膜癌、卵巢癌和结直肠癌的风险。非肿瘤方面的益处包括抗雄激素作用和缓解与月经有关的问题。本研究旨在确定没有口服避孕药禁忌证的群体对服用口服避孕药的非避孕益处及风险的了解。这项研究还评估了参与者更有可能考虑服用OCP的相关因素。

方法

纳入了263名21至40岁、没有口服避孕药禁忌证的女性。通过匿名问卷收集社会人口信息, 并评估了参与者对口服避孕药的非避孕益处和风险的了解。多元线性回归用于评估与了解程度相关的因素。多因素Logistic回归用于了解目前没有服用OCPs的女性更有可能考虑服用OCPs的相关因素。

结果

多因素Logistic回归分析显示, 总体上对口服避孕药的非避孕益处了解较多的参与者更有可能考虑服用口服避孕药(系数=0.184, p值=0.00)。对OCP的抗肿瘤和非肿瘤益处了解相对较少, 尤其是在老年妇女中。研究发现, 目前正在应用OCP的女性更了解OCP的益处。

结论

由于对口服避孕药的非避孕益处了解较多的妇女更有可能考虑服用口服避孕药, 应填补有关口服避孕药的知识空白, 使更多的妇女能够知晓口服避孕药的非避孕益处。

Keywords:

• Obstetrics and gynaecology
• public health
• gynaecological oncology
• oral contraceptives

Acknowledgements

The study team expresses their appreciation to Dr Shen Liang from the NUS Medicine Biostatistics Unit for her input into the statistical analysis of the study data. The study team also expresses their gratitude to A/Prof Matthew Kemp from the National University Hospital Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology for his input on the manuscript. Lastly, the study team would like to thank A/Prof Mahesh Choolani and A/Prof Jeffrey Low from the NUH Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology for their support of this study.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Ethical review and approval for the study was obtained from the National Health Group Domain Specific Review Board (reference number: 2021-00574)

Author contributions

Study conception and design was performed by CAO, TWS and JNSY. Data collection was performed by CAO and TWS. Analysis and interpretation of results was performed by CAO, TWS and JNSY. Initial draft manuscript preparation was performed by CAO and TWS. CAO and TWS contributed equally as co-first authors. JNSY was the study Principal Investigator. All authors reviewed the results and approved of the final version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The dataset used and/or analysed during the current study is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This study did not receive any funding.