Comparing Current, Former, and Never Users of Natural Family Planning An Analysis of Demographic, Socioeconomic, and Attitudinal Variables

Abstract

This project examines how women who currently use natural family planning (NFP), those who formerly used NFP, and those who have never used NFP compare along demographic, socioeconomic, and attitudinal variables. Bivariate analyses of data from the National Survey of Family Growth 2006–2010 (N = 10,598 female respondents) suggest that current NFP users varied socioeconomically and demographically from former NFP users, but differences were more prominent between current NFP users and never NFP users. In many cases, there was little variation between former NFP users and never NFP users. Current NFP users were less likely to be black and more likely to be Hispanic or other race, married, Catholic or other religion, have a bachelor's degree, and earn higher income than the other two groups. Understanding how current NFP users differ from those who formerly used NFP and those who have never tried NFP provides important clues about which populations to target for promotional efforts.