Contraceptive knowledge among women at risk of unintended pregnancy in Kingston, Jamaica

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographics and other characteristics and behaviors among sexually active women in Kingston, Jamaica (N = 222)

	n	(%)
Age in years
18–19	70	(31.5)
20–23	72	(32.4)
24–25	80	(36.0)
Highest educational grade achieved
High school or less	127	(57.5)
Vocational/skills training	60	(27.2)
Some college or university	34	(15.4)
Fulltime employment
Yes	49	(22.1)
No	173	(77.9)
Union status
Married, common-law, cohabiting	142	(64.8)
Other	77	(35.2)
Have live children
Yes	100	(45.7)
No	119	(54.3)
Health provider has discussed contraception
Yes	161	(72.9)
No	60	(27.2)
Current contraceptive method use*
Effective method	45	(20.3)
Less-effective method	70	(31.5)
None	107	(48.2)
Know someone who has used IUD or implant
Yes	169	(76.1)
No	53	(23.9)
Perception of IUD safety
Very safe, mostly safe	87	(39.2)
Mostly unsafe, very unsafe	82	(36.9)
Decline	53	(23.9)
Perception of implant safety
Very safe, mostly safe	130	(58.8)
Mostly unsafe, very unsafe	71	(32.1)
Decline	20	(9.1)
Believe they know more about contraception safety than health care providers
A lot, a little more, or the same	24	(10.9)
A little less, or a lot less	197	(89.1)
Trust health care providers to give accurate information about contraception safety
Very much	132	(60.8)
Somewhat or not at all	85	(39.2)
Trust family and friends to give accurate information about contraception safety
Very much	64	(29.2)
Somewhat or not at all	155	(70.8)
Trust celebrities to give accurate information about contraception safety
Very much	17	(7.9)
Somewhat or not at all	199	(92.1)

*If multiple responses were provided, the woman was categorized according to the most effective method used. Effective methods included injectable contraception and oral contraception; less-effective methods included male condoms, withdrawal or fertility awareness-based methods

Table 2. Correct responses to contraceptive knowledge questions among sexually active women in Kingston, Jamaica (N = 222)

Questions and possible responsesa	No.	(%)
Which of these is best for avoiding pregnancy?
Using a condom every time you have sex	92	(41.4)
Using two condoms every time you have sex	43	(19.4)
Douching, showering, or bathing immediately after sex	1	(0.5)
“Pulling out” before ejaculation	30	(13.5)
They are all equally effective	30	(13.5)
Don’t know	20	(9.0)
Decline	6	(2.7)
Which is the only birth control method that helps prevent infections?
The birth control pill	13	(5.9)
Male and female condoms	113	(50.9)
Norplant (contraceptive implant)	6	(2.7)
IUD	8	(3.6)
Don’t know	77	(34.7)
Decline	5	(2.3)
Which of the following birth control methods may be reversed if you decide you want to become pregnant?
Tubal ligation	19	(8.6)
Vasectomy	1	(0.5)
IUD (intrauterine device)	88	(39.6)
None of the above	17	(7.7)
Don’t know	90	(40.5)
Decline	7	(3.2)
Which birth control method is not easily noticed by a partnerb
IUD (intrauterine device, copper T)	38	(17.1)
The injection (Depo, Petogen)	96	(43.2)
The implant (Jadelle, Sino-implant)	24	(10.8)
They all aren’t easily noticed	28	(12.6)
Don’t know	34	(15.3)
Decline	2	(0.9)
Which method of birth control is the best at preventing pregnancy?
IUD (intrauterine device, copper T)	67	(30.2)
The pill	20	(9.0)
Male condom	29	(13.1)
Withdrawal (“pull-out method”)	14	(6.3)
They are all equally effective	39	(17.6)
Don’t know	46	(20.7)
Decline	7	(3.2)
Which statement is true about IUDs (intrauterine devices)?
Women of all ages may get an IUD	15	(6.8)
Women who have never had a baby may get an IUD	9	(4.1)
Women can have an IUD put in right after having a baby or having an abortion	47	(21.2)
They are all true	44	(19.8)
Don’t know	99	(44.6)
Decline	8	(3.6)
Which method of birth control can cause infertility?
The pill	30	(13.5)
Injection (Depo, Petogen)	23	(10.4)
The implant (Jadelle, Sino-implant)	20	(9.0)
None of the above	31	(14.0)
Don’t know	108	(48.6)
Decline	10	(4.5)

^aBold text indicates the correct response

^bThe intended answer was “they aren’t all easily noticed,” but because the implant could be detectable, especially in women with low body mass index, “IUD” and “the injection” also were scored as correct.

Table 3. Correlates of summary contraceptive knowledge score from bivariable analysis among sexually active women in Kingston, Jamaica (N = 222)

	ß	p
Age in years	0.05	.17
Highest educational grade achieved
High school or less	0.47	.05
Vocational/skills training	0.15	.58
At least some college or university	Ref
Fulltime employment
Yes	0.29	.15
No	Ref
Union status
Married, common-law, cohabiting	−0.05	.76
Other	Ref
Have live children
Yes	0.03	.87
No	Ref
Health provider has discussed contraception
Yes	0.33	.09
No	Ref
Current contraceptive method use†
Effective method	−0.29	.21
Less-effective method	−0.42	.03
None	Ref
Know someone who has used IUD or implant
Yes	−0.09	.67
No	Ref
Perception of IUD safety
Very safe, mostly safe	0.23	.19
Mostly unsafe, very unsafe	Ref
Perception of implant safety
Very safe, mostly safe	0.42	.01
Mostly unsafe, very unsafe	Ref
Know more about contraception safety than providers
Yes, a lot or a little more	0.44	.11
No, the same, a little less, or a lot less	Ref
Trust health care providers to give accurate information about contraception safety
Very much	0.01	.97
Somewhat or not at all	Ref
Trust family and friends to give accurate information about contraception safety
Very much	0.01	.97
Somewhat or not at all	Ref
Trust celebrities to give accurate information about contraception safety
Very much	−0.37	.25
Somewhat or not at all	Ref

IUD = intrauterine device

^aSummary score based on responses to seven questions with one point assigned for each correct response; thus, the scores ranged from 0–7 †If multiple responses were provided, the woman was categorized according to the most effective method used; Effective methods included injectable contraception and oral contraception; less-effective methods included male condoms, withdrawal or fertility awareness-based methods

Table 4. Correlates of summary contraceptive knowledge score from multivariable analysis among sexually active women in Kingston, Jamaica (N = 222)

	adjusted ß^b	p
Health provider has discussed contraception
Yes	0.37	.05
No	Ref
Current contraceptive method use^c
Effective method	−0.30	.18
Less-effective method	−0.40	.04
None	Ref
Perception of implant safety
Very safe, mostly safe	0.45	.01
Mostly unsafe, very unsafe	Ref

^aSummary score based on responses to seven questions with one point assigned for each correct response; thus, the scores ranged from 0–7; ^bAdjusted for all variables in the table; ^cIf multiple responses were provided, the woman was categorized according to the most effective method used; Effective methods included injectable contraception and oral contraception; less-effective methods included male condoms, withdrawal or fertility awareness-based methods