‘It’s just a very personal thing’: contraceptive influences and decision making among women living in Italy

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess contraceptive knowledge, perceptions and experiences among reproductive-aged women in Italy.

Methods: As part of a larger mixed-methods study, researchers conducted 46 interviews (June–July 2017) with English-speaking women aged 18–45 living in or near Florence, Italy, who were using the Italian health care system. Researchers used grounded theory to explore women’s contraceptive decision making and use. HyperRESEARCH software was used to aid data organisation and analysis. Researchers used a comparative method to contextualise data and identify emergent themes.

Results: Participants illuminated knowledge gaps and misinformation about the efficacy and long-term health effects of hormonal contraceptive methods. Family, friends and health care providers influenced their contraceptive choices. Local family planning clinics (consultori) were cited as primary sources of contraceptive information, resources and access.

Conclusion: Misinformation may contribute to the underuse of effective hormonal contraception in Italy. The study findings can inform practical recommendations to improve the dissemination of contraceptive information. Improved messaging strategies could address contraceptive concerns (e.g., hormonal effects) and knowledge gaps, which may improve hormonal contraceptive uptake.

摘要

目的：本研究旨在评估意大利育龄女性的避孕知识、认知和经验。

方法：作为一项大型混合方法研究的一部分, 研究人员对18岁至45岁、居住在意大利佛罗伦萨或附近、采用意大利医疗保健体系作为医疗保障、讲英语的女性进行了46人/次采访(2017年6月至7月)。研究人员运用基础理论知识对女性避孕决策和应用进行了探讨。用超研究软件来进行数据组织和分析。研究人员使用了一种比较方法来对数据进行具体定位, 并确定突发主题。

结果：参与者阐明了关于激素避孕方法的有效性和长期应用对健康的影响, 填补了相关知识的空白, 解释了之前对相关知识的误解。家庭、朋友和医疗保健提供者会影响他们的避孕选择。当地计划生育诊所（咨询处）被列为避孕信息、资源及获取途径的主要来源。

结论：错误的信息可能导致意大利有效的激素避孕措施使用不足。研究结果可为改进避孕信息的传播提供实际建议。改进的信息传递策略可以解决避孕方面的问题（例如, 激素影响）和知识差距, 这可能会提高激素避孕的使用率。

Keywords:

• Attitudes
• beliefs
• contraception
• knowledge
• women’s health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was partially supported by the Purdue University Office of Programs for Study Abroad, International Programs (Study Abroad and International Learning Grant and Intercultural Pedagogy Grant).