The association of attitudes about contraceptives with contraceptive use in a random sample of Colorado women

Abstract

Context

Research regarding unintended pregnancy often focuses on how women make decisions about whether or not to use contraceptives, and structural barriers to contraception. Less research examines how multidimensional attitudinal characteristics may be associated with effective contraceptive use.

Methods

In fall 2007, we conducted a random telephone survey of 801 sexually active women in Colorado to assess associations of the attitudinal dimensions of Planning, Partner Communication, and Stigma and Misinformation with contraceptive use. We also examine demographic differences on hypothesized predictors.

Results

Stigma and Misinformation is higher in Latina women, women on Medicaid or with no insurance, women with less than a college degree, and women living in small towns or rural areas. Partner Communication attitudes are most positive among those with a bachelor's degree, and those with less than a high school degree, while they are most negative among those living in small towns and rural areas. In multivariate analysis, planning to use contraceptives is associated with greater likelihood of more effective contraceptive use. Higher levels of planning and partner communication are associated with greater likelihood of any contraceptive use.

Discussion

In addition to addressing structural barriers to contraception, interventions to address the need to plan for contraception are vital to mitigate the high prevalence of unintended pregnancies in the United States.

Keywords:

• Contraception
• Unintended pregnancy
• Attitudes
• Barriers to contraceptive use

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grants to NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado Foundation from The Compton Foundation, the Chambers Family Fund, The Women's Foundation of Colorado, the NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation, The Jay and Rose Philips Family Foundation, a large Anonymous Foundation, and by individual donations from supportive persons in Colorado. Preparation of this manuscript was partly supported by National Institutes of Health Grant P30-MH52776.

We thank Craig Hughes and RBI Strategies for their effort in carrying out the survey and Joy Collins and Kathryn Wittneben for their assistance all facets of this project. In addition, we thank Jodi Driskol at the Department of Public Health and Environment at the State of Colorado, Jennifer Frost at the Guttmacher Institute, and Robin Baker at The Bell Policy Center for help in survey development. Finally, we thank Stefanie Mollborn, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder, for her comments on earlier versions of this manuscript.