Simmons RG, Baayd J, Waters M, Diener Z, Turok DK, Sanders JN. Assessing contraceptive use as a continuum: outcomes of a qualitative assessment of the contraceptive journey.
Reprod Health 2023;
20:33. [PMID:
36793112 PMCID:
PMC9930211 DOI:
10.1186/s12978-023-01573-4]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Contraceptive use is often a multi-decade experience for people who can become pregnant, yet few studies have assessed how this ongoing process impacts contraceptive decision-making in the context of the reproductive life course.
METHODS
We conducted in-depth interviews assessing the contraceptive journeys of 33 reproductive-aged people who had previously received no-cost contraception through a contraceptive initiative in Utah. We coded these interviews using modified grounded theory.
RESULTS
A person's contraceptive journey occurred in four phases: identification of need, method initiation, method use, and method discontinuation. Within these phases, there were five main areas of decisional influence: physiological factors, values, experiences, circumstances, and relationships. Participant stories demonstrated the ongoing and complex process of navigating contraception across these ever-changing aspects. Individuals stressed the lack of any "right" method of contraception in decision-making and advised healthcare providers to approach contraceptive conversations and provision from positions of method neutrality and whole-person perspectives.
CONCLUSIONS
Contraception is a unique health intervention that requires ongoing decision-making without a particular "right" answer. As such, change over time is normal, more method options are needed, and contraceptive counseling should account for a person's contraceptive journey.
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