One-year contraceptive continuation and pregnancy in adolescent girls and women initiating hormonal contraceptives

Feasibility of adolescent contraceptive care in the pediatric emergency department: A pilot randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

This study assessed feasibility constructs of adolescent contraceptive care in the pediatric emergency department (PED), including contraception initiation.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized trial in two PEDs with pregnancy-capable adolescents aged 15-18 years who were assigned to enhanced usual care (usual) or same-day initiation (same day). All received counseling and clinic referral, but same-day participants could also receive contraception in the PED. We trained PED clinicians in counseling and prescribing. Adolescents and clinicians rated feasibility using five Likert-type items (1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree) after the session. We assessed PED medication initiation and appropriateness via medical record review and contraception use and side effects at 30 days via adolescent survey. To further explore feasibility, we conducted clinician interviews at study completion; these were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. We hypothesized contraceptive care would be feasible (defined as average score ≥ 4 across five survey items).

RESULTS

We enrolled 37 adolescents (12 in usual and 25 in same-day), mean age was 16.6 years, 73% were Black, and 19% were Hispanic. We trained 27 clinicians. Average feasibility scores were 4.6 ± 0.4 (adolescents) and 4.1 ± 0.8 (clinicians). Eleven (44%) same-day participants initiated contraception in the PED. One adolescent with migraines initially received estrogen-containing pills; this was corrected after discharge. At 30 days, same-day participants were more likely to report contraception use (78% vs. 13%; p = 0.007). One adolescent reported bloating as a side effect. Clinicians enjoyed delivering contraceptive care, found study resource materials useful, and identified staffing shortages as a barrier to care delivery.

CONCLUSIONS

We are among the first to report on PED-based adolescent contraception initiation to prevent unintended pregnancy. Adolescents and clinicians reported that contraceptive care was feasible. Initiation was common and medications were largely appropriate and tolerated. Future efforts should explore integrating contraceptive care into routine PED care.

Reproductive healthcare in adolescents with autism and other developmental disabilities

BACKGROUND

Adults with developmental disabilities often have less access to reproductive health services than adults without these disabilities. However, little is known about how adolescents with developmental disabilities, including autism, access reproductive healthcare.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to characterize the use of reproductive healthcare services among adolescents with autism and those with other developmental disabilities in comparison with adolescents with typical development.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a cohort study of a sample of adolescents who were continuously enrolled members of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated healthcare system, from ages 14 to 18 years. The final analytical sample included 700 adolescents with autism, 836 adolescents with other developmental disabilities, and 2187 typically developing adolescents who sought care between 2000 and 2017. Using the electronic health record, we obtained information on menstrual conditions, the use of obstetrical-gynecologic care, and prescriptions of hormonal contraception. We compared healthcare use between the groups using chi-square tests and covariate-adjusted risk ratios estimated using modified Poisson regression.

RESULTS

Adolescents with autism and those with other developmental disabilities were significantly more likely to have diagnoses of menstrual disorders, polycystic ovary syndrome, and premenstrual syndrome than typically developing adolescents. These 2 groups also were less likely than typically developing peers to visit the obstetrician-gynecologist or to use any form of hormonal contraception, including oral contraception, hormonal implants, and intrauterine devices. Adolescents in all 3 groups accessed hormonal contraception most frequently through their primary care provider, followed by an obstetrician-gynecologist.

CONCLUSION

Adolescents with autism and those with other developmental disabilities are less likely than their typically developing peers to visit the obstetrician-gynecologist and to use hormonal contraception, suggesting possible care disparities that may persist into adulthood. Efforts to improve access to reproductive healthcare in these populations should target care delivered in both the pediatric and obstetrics-gynecology settings.

Subdermal contraceptive implants and repeat teenage motherhood: Evidence from a major maternity hospital-based program in Uruguay

Teenage fertility is a social problem because of its private and public costs in countries of different development levels. Reductions in adolescent birth rates do not necessarily follow drops in overall fertility due to the demographic transition model. This paper analyses the impact of a subdermal contraceptive program on repeat teenage motherhood. Using a regression discontinuity design, we find that the intervention reduced mothers' likelihood of having another child in the next 48 months by 10 percentage points. This reduction is not random, and we also identify small positive selection in subsequent births.

Contraceptive use and discontinuation among women aged 15-24 years in Kenya

Introduction

The 15-24-year-old age group of young women make up about 15% of the population of 47 million Kenyans which comes to 7 million. Addressing the reproductive health goals of this cohort is thus a policy priority because of the high potential they pose for unintended pregnancy through incorrect and intermittent use of contraception.

Objective

The study sought to present evidence on contraceptive use among women aged 15-24 in Kenya between 2012 and 2014 using Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2014 Contraceptive calendar data and make recommendations on enhancing the correct and consistent use of contraception.

Methodology

The data used was obtained from the Choices and Challenges tool developed by Population Reference Bureau (PRB) and visualized innovatively using Sankey Diagrams that show contraceptive use/non-use, continuation, switching/discontinuation, and pregnancy.

Results

The use of contraceptives went up by about 30% during the study period while the use of modern methods went up by 83%. The uptake of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) went up by 87% while that of Short Acting Methods (SAM) went up by 70% but the progress was clouded by discontinuation rates of 35% with side effects being the leading reason for the abandonment of contraception.

Conclusion

For Kenya to achieve transformative results in ending the unmet need for contraception and preventable maternal deaths, it is critical to sustaining the current gains in contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) by promoting the retention of youth users and encouraging new users.

Development of a Peer-Based Intervention Educating Teenagers about Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC)

OBJECTIVE

Despite a decrease in teenage pregnancy rates in the U.S. in the past decades, teen pregnancy continues to be a considerable health issue. In this paper, we outline the development of our novel peer-based intervention, appropriately named Get It?, that aims to increase awareness of and self-efficacy to use long-active reversible contraceptives (LARCs) among teenagers.

METHODS

Peer narrative videos were created from audio-recording semi-structured, one-on-one interviews with teenage LARC users. Focus groups of young women 19 years old and younger were conducted to choose the most audience-appropriate videos to be included in the final intervention. Using a thematic content analysis approach, transcripts of the audio-recorded focus groups were reviewed and manually coded.

RESULTS

The final layout of Get It? included 4 videos that were chosen by participants of the focus groups, as well as supplemental activities that included a basic description of the LARC devices, the ability to anonymously post personal stories about LARC that can be shared with others, and the opportunity to email the primary investigator questions about LARC. Thematic analysis of the focus group discussions revealed when it came to narrative videos, participants desired: (1) an authentic narrator, (2) more information on the narrator, (3) narrators displaying ample emotions.

CONCLUSION

Peer narratives play a vital role in influencing a teenager's perspective on their health status, therefore understanding what constitutes reliable narration from an online format was critical in the development of a peer-based electronic intervention that informs teenagers of the most effective contraceptive available to them.

Modeling the potential benefit of an over-the-counter progestin-only pill in preventing unintended pregnancies in the U.S

OBJECTIVES

To develop a model to estimate the possible impact of use of an over-the-counter (OTC) progestin-only pill (POP) on the number of unintended pregnancies in the United States.

STUDY DESIGN

Using typical use failure rates (7% for POPs), we compared the expected number of unintended pregnancies for two theoretical cohorts of 100,000 women: one which purchased and used an OTC POP exclusively for contraception, the other using contraceptive methods at proportions obtained from an actual-use clinical trial simulating OTC use of norgestrel 0.075 mg (including 35% using no method and only 19% using hormonal contraception or long-acting contraceptives). Sensitivity analyses were conducted using alternative model inputs such as different failure rates for OTC POPs and varied alternative contraceptive method mix.

RESULTS

An estimated 37,624 unintended pregnancies would occur annually if 100,000 women continued their usual contraceptive method as used at baseline in the actual use trial. This would be reduced by 81% to 7,000 pregnancies with the exclusive use of an OTC POP - a net reduction of 30,624 unintended pregnancies annually. While the number of unintended pregnancies prevented varied as the model parameters were modified (ranging from 1,461 to 34,124), a net benefit of OTC POP use was observed over a wide range of input values.

CONCLUSIONS

Using data from a real-world contraception user profile, our model suggests that use of an OTC POP could reduce the overall number of unintended pregnancies in the United States. This conclusion remains true across a wide range of modeled scenarios.

IMPLICATIONS

The estimates suggested by this model are supportive of an OTC switch for a POP.

Novel androgen therapies including selective androgen receptor modulators

Male hypogonadism is associated with reduced quality of life and the development of co-morbidities including obesity, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidaemia. The mainstay of treatment for male hypogonadism is testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). However, TRT has recognised side effects including impaired spermatogenesis and there are concerns regarding its use in men with concurrent cardiovascular disease. Thus, there has been an impetus to develop novel androgen therapies for treating male hypogonadism to mitigate the side effects of TRT. This review will discuss the benefits and adverse effects of TRT, and novel therapies including nasal testosterone, aromatase inhibitors, selective oestrogen receptor modulators, and selective androgen receptor modulators.

Ranges of pregnancy preferences and contraceptive use: Results from a population-based survey in the southeast United States

CONTEXT

Understanding how pregnancy preferences shape contraceptive use is essential for guiding contraceptive interventions and policies that center individuals' preferences and desires. Lack of rigorous measurement of pregnancy preferences, particularly on the population level, has been a methodologic challenge.

METHODS

We investigated associations between prospective pregnancy preferences, measured with a valid instrument, the Desire to Avoid Pregnancy (DAP) scale, and contraceptive use in a representative sample of 2601 pregnancy-capable self-identified women, aged 18-44 years, in Alabama and South Carolina (2017-2018). We used multivariable regression with weighting to investigate how probability of modern contraceptive use, and use of different contraceptive method types, changed with increasing preference to avoid pregnancy.

RESULTS

Desire to Avoid Pregnancy scale scores (range:0-4, 4 = greater preference to avoid pregnancy, median = 2.29, IQR: 1.57-3.14; α:0.95) were strongly associated with contraceptive use among sexually active respondents (aPR = 1.15 [1.10, 1.20]; predicted 45% using contraception among DAP = 0, 62% among DAP = 2, 86% among DAP = 4). Method types used did not differ by DAP score. The most common reasons for nonuse were concern over side effects and not wanting to use a method (32% each) among respondents with mid-range and high DAP scores. Among those with mid-range DAP scores, 20% reported nonuse due to not minding if pregnancy were to occur (vs. 0% among those with high DAP scores).

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnancy preferences strongly influence likelihood of contraceptive use. Providion of appropriate contraceptive care to those not explicitly desiring pregnancy must differentiate between ranges of feelings about pregnancy, perceived drawbacks to contraceptive use, and legitimate psychological and interpersonal benefits of nonuse to promote autonomy in contraceptive decision-making.

How do fertility intentions lead to contraceptive continuation among a cohort of family planning users who received services from the private sector in Nigeria

Background: The Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria is exploring task sharing family planning (FP) services to Community Pharmacists (CPs) and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs). Yet few studies have explored contraceptive continuation of clients who received FP services from pharmacies and drug shops. This paper uses longitudinal data and looks at women's contraceptive continuation approximately nine months after they received FP services from CPs and PPMVs in Kaduna and Lagos states. Methods: Longitudinal data for this analysis come from an evaluation of the IntegratE project. 491 women were interviewed within 10 days after receiving a FP service from an IntegratE CP or PPMV and approximately nine months later. The dependent variable is contraceptive continuation at the follow-up interview and the independent variable is fertility intentions as reported at enrollment. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between fertility intentions and contraceptive continuation. Results: 89% of women continued using contraception approximately 9 months after the enrollment interview. Women who intended to have a child in more than two years were significantly more likely to continue using contraception compared to women who intended to have a child within two-years (AOR 2.6; 95% CI 1.1-6.1). Among women who were asked about the quality of care received, 93% said the CP/PPMV asked whether they wanted to have a/another child in the future and 85% said they were asked when they would like to have that child. Conclusion: The fertility intentions of women who seek FP services from CPs and PPMVs in Nigeria can predict contraceptive continuation. As Nigeria task shares FP services to CPs and PPMVs, training on comprehensive FP counseling will be essential for scale-up. Since many women continued using FP, CPs and PPMVs have the potential to expand access to, and support women's continued use of, FP.

How do changes in motivation to prevent pregnancy influence contraceptive continuation? Results from a longitudinal study with women who receive family planning services from Community Pharmacists and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors in Nigeria

Background

Studies have shown that motivation to avoid pregnancy is associated with contraceptive use and continuation. These motivations can change, however, even within a short period of time. This paper uses longitudinal data to look at women’s motivation to avoid pregnancy at two time points, and how changes in motivation influence contraceptive continuation.

Methods

Data for this analysis came from an evaluation of the IntegratE project which seeks to expand access to family planning (FP) in Nigeria through community pharmacies and drug shops. 491 women were interviewed within 10 days after receiving a FP service from these sources and again approximately 9 months later. The dependent variable was contraceptive continuation at the follow-up interview. A categorical independent variable was used to represent changes in motivation to avoid pregnancy from enrollment to the follow-up interview. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between changes in motivation and contraceptive continuation.

Results

89% of women continued using contraception approximately 9 months after the enrollment interview. Women who remained highly motivated to avoid pregnancy were significantly more likely to continue using contraception compared to women who became more motivated (AOR 2.5; 95% CI 1.0–6.0). Women who became less motivated were 64% less likely to continue using contraception compared to who became more motivated (AOR 0.36 95% CI 0.1–0.9).

Conclusion

FP providers, including private sector pharmacists and drug shop owners, should continuously check-in with women about their motivations around pregnancy to support continuation among those who wish to avoid pregnancy.

Getting Intentional about Intention to Use: A Scoping Review of Person-Centered Measures of Demand

In recent years, there has been much reflection on the measures used to assess and monitor contraceptive programming outcomes. The meaning and measurement of intention‐to‐use (ITU) contraception, however, has had less attention and research despite its widespread inclusion in many major surveys. This paper takes a deeper look at the meaning and measurement of ITU around contraception. We conducted a scoping review guided by the following questions: What is the existing evidence regarding the measurement of ITU contraception? What definitions and measures are used? What do we know about the validity of these measures? We searched databases and found 112 papers to include in our review and combined this with a review of the survey instruments and behavioral theory. Our review found growing evidence around the construct of ITU in family planning programming and research. However there are inconsistencies in how ITU is defined and measured, and this tends not to be informed by advances in behavioral theory and research. Further work is needed to develop and test measures that capture the complexity of intention, examine how intention differently relates to longer‐range goals compared to more immediate implementation, and demonstrate a positive relationship between ITU and contraceptive use.

Vaginal ring acceptability: A systematic review and meta-analysis of vaginal ring experiences from around the world

OBJECTIVE

The vaginal ring (ring) is a female-initiated, long-acting drug delivery system for different indications, including HIV prevention. Our aim was to provide evidence for acceptability of the vaginal ring across indications to support dapivirine and multipurpose prevention technology ring introduction and roll out.

STUDY DESIGN

This systematic review and meta-analysis followed PRISMA guidelines. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and grey literature for publications reporting favorable ring acceptability and secondary outcomes involving actual ring use (comfort, ease of ring use, ring comfort during sex, expulsions, and vaginal symptoms) or hypothetical acceptability for any indication published January 1, 1970-June 15, 2021. We estimated random-effects pooled prevalence, assessing between-study variation using meta-regression.

RESULTS

Of 2,234 records, we included 123 studies with 40,434 actual and hypothetical ring users. The primary outcome assessment included 50 studies with 60 ring subgroups totaling 19,271 ring users. The favorable acceptability pooled prevalence was 85.6% (95%CI 81.3, 89.0), while hypothetical acceptability among non-ring users was 27.6% (95%CI 17.5, 40.5). In meta-regression, acceptability was higher in menopause (95.4%; 95%CI 88.4, 98.2) compared to contraceptive rings (83.7%; 95%CI 75.6, 89.5). Acceptability was lower in pharmacokinetic studies (50%; 95%CI 22.1, 77.9) compared to RCTs (89.5%; 95%CI 85.8.92.4) and in studies assessing acceptability at ≥12 months (78.5%; 95%CI 66.5, 87.1) versus studies assessing acceptability at <3 months (91.9%; 95%CI 83.7, 96.1). European (90.6%; 95%CI 83.9, 94.7), Asian (97.1%; 95%CI 92.0, 99.0), and multi-region studies (93.5%; 95%CI 84.6, 97.4) reported more favorable acceptability compared to African studies (59.4%; 95%CI 38.3, 77.5). Secondary outcomes were similarly favorable, including ring comfort (92.9%; 95%CI 89.2, 95.4), ease of use (90.9%; 95%CI 86.5, 94.0), and comfort during sex (82.7%; 95%CI 76.4, 87.6). Limitations include inconsistent outcome definitions and unmeasured factors affecting acceptability.

CONCLUSIONS

Women who used vaginal rings reported they were acceptable across indications geographic regions and indications. Policy makers should consider the ring as an important option for pregnancy and HIV prevention drug development.

IMPLICATIONS

This review found favorable acceptability among vaginal ring users across indications and geographic areas, in contrast to low hypothetical acceptability among non-users. Vaginal rings are an important drug delivery system for pregnancy and HIV preventions, and scale-up should plan to address initial hesitancy among new users.

An endocrine perspective on menstrual suppression for adolescents: achieving good suppression while optimizing bone health

Suppression of menstruation and/or ovarian function in adolescent girls may be desired for a variety of reasons. Numerous medical options exist. The choice of the appropriate modality for an individual patient depends on several factors based on differences in the efficacy of achieving menstrual suppression as well as in their side effect profiles. Adolescence is also a period of bone mass accrual in girls, and several of these modalities may negatively influence peak bone mass. This review focuses on the efficacy of achieving menstrual suppression and the effect on bone health of the various options through an overview of the current literature and also highlights areas in need of further research.

Feasibility study of a health coaching intervention to improve contraceptive continuation in adolescent and young adult women in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

INTRODUCTION

Few interventions to improve contraceptive continuation are tailored to meet the developmental needs of young women under age 25 years. The Health Coaching for Contraceptive Continuation (HC3) intervention was designed to address this gap. In this special report, we describe the rationale for using health coaching, conceptual framework, intervention processes, and findings from a single-arm feasibility study of the intervention protocol.

METHODOLOGY

Health coaching is a person-centered behavioral change approach organized around five main strategies: providing education relevant to health goals, building health self-management skills, offering patient-centered counseling, identifying barriers to adherence, and fostering personal accountability for achieving health goals. We used these strategies to affect theory-driven mediators delineated in the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction (intentions, knowledge, attitudes, perceived social norms, and self-efficacy) and clinical mediators posited to change through program participation (shared contraceptive decision-making, method satisfaction, quality of life, distress tolerance, experiential avoidance, patient-coach alliance, and expectations of treatment effect). Experienced sexual health educators completed a manualized, 4-week health training program adapted from the National Society of Health Coaches. Between March and December 2017, we recruited a convenience sample of sexually-active women ages 14-21 years who initiated a new contraceptive in the prior 14 days from three urban pediatric clinics in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At baseline, participants completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, contraceptive needs assessment interview, and prioritized reproductive topics to learn more about. We synthesized these data into a coaching plan that guided the monthly coaching sessions which occurred for 6 months following contraceptive initiation. We assessed method adherence and continuation with monthly follow-up questionnaires and corroborated the findings through electronic medical record and pharmacy refill data review. Exit interviews assessed program acceptability. Feasibility outcomes measured throughout the protocol administration included recruitment and retention success. We used descriptive statistics to assess baseline and follow up questionnaire measures and audio-recorded and transcribed exit interviews verbatim. Two independent coders used deductive and inductive content analysis coding approaches to identify themes related to program acceptability.

RESULTS

Of 92 women approached for the longitudinal intervention, 33 enrolled. Participants' mean age was 17.4 ± 2.1 years. Most were Black (n = 24), in high school (n = 23), and single/never-married (n = 31). Twenty-one completed ≥4 coaching sessions. Among the 23 for whom 6-month contraceptive continuation could be determined, 20 continued their baseline method, 2 switched methods without a gap in use, and 1 discontinued contraceptive use. Five were lost to follow up after enrollment; continuation status was indeterminant for the remaining five. Among the 22 who completed exit interviews, all expressed high program acceptability citing that it provided knowledge-based benefits, nonknowledge-based benefits, and an opportunity to develop a positive, supportive relationship with a reproductive health expert. Participants provided feedback on logistical aspects of the program they enjoyed and made suggestions for improvements prior to embarking on a larger efficacy trial.

DISCUSSION

Health coaching is a new approach for promoting contraceptive continuation in young women. The conceptual framework, program structure, and feasibility findings demonstrate strong support for the program among participants. Subsequent research must explore program effects on contraceptive continuation and prevention of unintended pregnancy.

What's Known and What's Next: Contraceptive Counseling and Support for Adolescents and Young Adult Women

The low rates of actual contraceptive failure and high rates of contraceptive use among young women highlight that choice of contraceptive method and patterns of contraceptive use greatly influence unintended pregnancy risk. Promoting contraceptive use among adolescent and young adult women requires supportive health systems and health providers who understand this population's evolving developmental needs. It also requires an awareness of effective tools for counseling patients, while being mindful of the power dynamics operational during clinical encounters to avoid inadvertently coercive interpersonal dynamics. Missed opportunities to provide such patient-centered care can lead to unplanned pregnancies and suboptimal health and social consequences for young women. Unfortunately, health providers often lack the tools and resources to appropriately identify and meet individual young women's contraceptive needs. This article summarizes the evidence supporting contraceptive counseling strategies linked with contraceptive initiation among young women, and evidence-based approaches for supporting contraceptive adherence and continuation after method initiation. It also orients readers to the unique neurodevelopmental factors that influence the shared decision-making process during contraception counseling sessions with young women. New and emerging approaches for supporting contraceptive initiation, adherence, and continuation are reviewed.

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception: Placement, Continuation, and Removal Rates at an Inner-City Academic Medical Center Clinic

Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARCs) has the potential to decrease unintended pregnancies but only if women can easily access a requested method. Retrospective electronic chart review identified women desiring LARC placement over a one-year period ending 31 December 2016. Most of the 311 insertions were for family planning, with 220 new insertions and 60 replacements. Delays occurred in 38% (n = 118) of patients, averaged 5 ± 5 weeks, and 47% received interval contraception. Reasons included absence of qualified provider (n = 44, 37%), pending cultures (n = 31, 26%), and Mirena availability. Teenage LARC use favored Nexplanon whereas older women preferred Mirena (p < 0.01). Of the 11% choosing early LARC removal, a significant number were African Americans (p = 0.040) or teenagers (p = 0.048). Retention time varied by device type; most patients switched to other contraceptives. No patients experienced IUD expulsion. Understanding barriers, attempting to remedy them, and addressing the side effects associated with LARC use is of importance in this inner-city patient population in the United States.

[Contraceptive discontinuities in the use of oral and injectable hormonal contraceptives, and male condoms]

The study aimed to estimate the total contraceptive discontinuity rates in the use of oral and injectable hormonal contraceptives, and male condoms and dropout rates due to switches to more effective and less effective methods. Data on 2,051 women, users of primary healthcare services in three Brazilian state capitals, were collected using the contraceptive calendar. The results showed that 24.5% of users of oral hormonal contraceptives, 33.5% of users of injectables, and 39% of users of male condoms had discontinued the respective method after 12 months of use, independently of the reason, and that the rates varied little between the capitals but did depend on the method. The main reason for discontinuing use of the contraceptive method was the desire to become pregnant (20.8%). Conception while using the method was reported by 20% of the women, a proportion that reached 25.7% in users of male condoms. After 12 months with the method, the dropout rate for reasons related to the contraceptive method was 11.4% in users of injectables; 15.9% of users of male condoms switched to a more effective method; and 16.3% of users of injectables switched to a less effective method. Contraceptive discontinuity rates were high and varied according to the contraceptive method.

Young Women's Experiences With Subcutaneous Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate: A Secondary Analysis of a One-Year Randomized Trial in Malawi

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness, safety, and experiences with side effects of self-injected and provider-administered injectable contraception between young (18-24 years) versus older (≥25 years) women.

METHODS

We conducted secondary analysis of data from a 12-month randomized controlled trial in Malawi, where a total of 731 women were randomized to receive subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) administered by a provider or be trained to self-inject subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. Data collectors contacted women after the reinjection window at 3, 6, and 9 months to collect data on discontinuation and women's experiences, including adverse events. Twelve months after enrollment or at early discontinuation, women had their final interview, including pregnancy testing. We compared continuation, pregnancy, safety, and side effects among young women versus older women.

RESULTS

Among self-injectors, there were no significant differences found in continuation by age (p = .345) with continuation rates at 12 months of 79% for young women and 69% for older women. Continuation rates were lower for both age groups with provider-administered injections. In the provider-administered group, continuation rates among young women (39%) were lower than among older women (49%) (p = .047). The distribution of reasons for discontinuation did not differ significantly by age for those receiving provider injections (p = .698). However, younger self-injectors were less likely to miss the reinjection window than older self-injectors (p = .011). Age did not significantly influence pregnancy or safety.

CONCLUSIONS

With evidence of potential higher impact on continuation and no safety concerns, we recommend self-injection be added to the contraception options available to young women in low-resource settings.

A risk scoring tool for predicting Kenyan women at high risk of contraceptive discontinuation

Objective

We developed and validated a pragmatic risk assessment tool for identifying contraceptive discontinuation among Kenyan women who do not desire pregnancy.

Study design

Within a prospective cohort of contraceptive users, participants were randomly allocated to derivation (n = 558) and validation (n = 186) cohorts. Risk scores were developed by selecting the Cox proportional hazards model with the minimum Akaike information criterion. Predictive performance was evaluated using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves and area under the curve (AUC).

Results

The overall contraceptive discontinuation rate was 36.9 per 100 woman-years (95% confidence interval [CI] 30.3–44.9). The predictors of discontinuation selected for the risk score included use of a short-term method or copper intrauterine device (vs. injectable or implant), method continuation or switch (vs. initiation), < 9 years of completed education, not having a child aged < 6 months, and having no spouse or a spouse supportive of family planning (vs. having a spouse who has unsupportive or uncertain attitudes towards family planning). AUC at 24 weeks was 0.76 (95% CI 0.64–0.87) with 70.0% sensitivity and 78.6% specificity at the optimal cut point in the derivation cohort. Discontinuation was 3.8-fold higher among high- vs. low-risk women (95% CI 2.33–6.30). AUC was 0.68 (95% CI 0.47–0.90) in the validation cohort. A simplified score comprising routinely collected variables demonstrated similar performance (derivation-AUC: 0.73 [95% CI 0.60–0.85]; validation-AUC: 0.73 [95% CI 0.51–0.94]). Positive predictive value in the derivation cohort was 31.4% for the full and 28.1% for the simplified score.

Conclusions

The risk scores demonstrated moderate predictive ability but identified large proportions of women as high risk. Future research is needed to improve sensitivity and specificity of a clinical tool to identify women at high risk for experiencing method-related challenges.

Implications

Contraceptive discontinuation is a major driver of unmet contraceptive need globally. Few tools exist for identifying women who may benefit most from additional support in order to meet their contraceptive needs and preferences. This study developed and assessed the validity of a provider-focused risk prediction tool for contraceptive discontinuation among Kenyan women using modern contraception. High rates of early discontinuation observed in this study emphasize the necessity of investing in efforts to develop new contraceptive technologies and stronger delivery systems to better align with women's needs and preferences for voluntary family planning.

Beyond safety and efficacy: sexuality-related priorities and their associations with contraceptive method selection

Objectives

Sexuality-related preferences have been understudied in contraceptive selection and uptake. Investigators endeavored to assess contraceptive preferences among patients selecting new methods at family planning clinics and to evaluate the degree to which two sexuality-related preferences are (a) valued and (b) associated with method selection.

Study design

Data were derived from the HER Salt Lake Contraceptive Initiative, a longitudinal cohort nested in a quasi-experimental, observational study enrolling 18–45-year-old patients at four family planning health centers in Salt Lake County. At the time of selecting the new method of their choice, participants reported the importance of nine factors in contraceptive method selection, including two sexuality-related preferences: a method's lack of impact on libido and its lack of sexual interruption. Analyses involved multinomial logistic regression with method selected as the outcome, sexuality-related factors as the main explanatory variables, and a range of controls and covariates.

Results

Among 2188 individuals seeking new contraceptive methods, the factors most frequently cited as quite or extremely important were safety (98%), effectiveness (94%), not interrupting sex (81%), not impacting libido (81%) and lack of side effects (80%). Less frequently cited factors included partner acceptability (46%), lack of hormones (39%), friend recommendation (29%) and alignment with religious beliefs (11%). Multivariate models documented no significant associations between sexual-related priorities and method selection.

Conclusions

Many contraceptive seekers rank sexual-related priorities alongside safety and efficacy as very important, but a range of methods align with people's sexual priorities.

Implications

Since patients endorse the importance of sexual-related contraceptive factors (impact on libido, impact on sexual interruption) alongside safety and efficacy, contraceptive research, counseling and care should attend to people's sexuality.

Pregnancy preferences and contraceptive use among US women

OBJECTIVES

An understanding of the relationship between individuals' pregnancy preferences and contraceptive use is essential for appropriate patient-centered counseling and care. We examined the relationship between women's pregnancy preferences and contraceptive use using a new prospective measure, the Desire to Avoid Pregnancy (DAP) scale.

STUDY DESIGN

As part of a study examining women's suspicion and confirmation of new pregnancies, we recruited patients aged 15 - 45 from seven reproductive health and primary health facilities in Arizona, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Texas in 2016-2017. We used multivariable logistic, multinomial logistic, and linear regression models to examine the associations among DAP scores (range: 0 - 4) and contraceptive use outcomes and identify factors associated with discordance between DAP and use of contraception.

RESULTS

Participants with a greater preference to avoid pregnancy had higher odds of contraceptive use (aOR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.31, 2.04) and used contraceptives more consistently (aβ = 8.9 percentage points, 95% CI: 5.2, 12.7). Nevertheless, 63% of women with low preference to avoid pregnancy reported using a contraceptive method. Higher preference to avoid pregnancy was not associated with type of contraceptive method used: women with the full range of pregnancy preferences reported using all method types.

CONCLUSION

When measured using a rigorously developed instrument, pregnancy preferences were associated with contraceptive use and consistency of use. However, our findings challenge assumptions that women with the highest preference against pregnancy use more effective methods and that women who might welcome pregnancy do not use contraception.

IMPLICATIONS

Women's preferences about pregnancy contribute significantly to their use of contraception. However, health care providers and researchers should consider that contraceptive features besides effectiveness in preventing pregnancy shape contraceptive decision-making and use.

Integration of a Comprehensive Contraception Education Program Into Clinical Practice in a Family Planning Clinic

OBJECTIVE

To improve rates of contraception adherence by implementing a comprehensive contraception educational program for women receiving care at a family planning clinic.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental cohort study in which we evaluated women presenting before (control group) and after program implementation (intervention group) and compared the proportion of women returning for contraceptive method change and/or for unintended pregnancy.

SETTING

Family planning clinic of a large academic medical center.

PARTICIPANTS

English-speaking women ages 12 to 50 years who presented to the clinic for pregnancy termination or initiation of a new contraceptive method from May 2012 to May 2014.

INTERVENTION

A provider-facilitated, patient-centered educational intervention was implemented to foster patient knowledge and choice about contraception.

RESULTS

We conducted chart review to identify any clinic visit that occurred in the 12 months after the index visit. Pearson's chi-square test was used to compare results for women in both groups. The intervention group included 201 women, and the control group included 162 women. In the control group, 28% (n = 46/162) returned within the year for unintended pregnancy and/or contraceptive method change, whereas only 17% (n = 35/201) returned in the study group. This difference was statistically significant (p < .05).

CONCLUSION

Initiation of a comprehensive contraception educational program was associated with a decrease in rates of return visits for unintended pregnancy and contraceptive method changes. This implies an improvement in adherence to the initially chosen contraceptive method. Such interventions hold promise for improving contraceptive adherence and decreasing unintended pregnancy. Improving contraceptive adherence is a critical first step to decreasing unintended pregnancies.

Do Adolescent Women's Contraceptive Preferences Predict Method Use and Satisfaction? A Survey of Northern California Family Planning Clients

PURPOSE

Contraceptive satisfaction may influence not only contraceptive use but also long-term engagement in care. We investigated the extent to which adolescent and young women's desired contraceptive features are associated with their current contraceptive method and if the presence of preferred features in their current method is associated with satisfaction.

METHODS

We performed a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional survey at five Northern California family planning clinics, including women aged 13-24 years. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression identified associations between desired features and sociodemographic characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine associations between desired features and current contraceptive method, as well as the presence of desired features and satisfaction with current method.

RESULTS

Among 814 participants, the features most frequently rated "very important" included effectiveness (87%, n = 685), safety (85%, n = 664), and side effects (72%, n = 562). Contraceptive feature preferences varied by age, race/ethnicity, intimate partner violence history, and sexually transmitted infection history. Having a preference for a specific contraceptive feature was not associated with using a method with that feature, except for sexually transmitted infection prevention (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.59, confidence interval [CI; 1.18-2.16]). However, respondents with preferences for effectiveness, partner independence, or privacy who used methods that were congruent with their preferences were more likely to express satisfaction (aOR_{effectiveness}: 1.57, CI [1.03-2.37], aOR_{partner independent}: 1.75 [1.03-2.96], and aOR_privacy: 1.81 [1.01-3.23]).

CONCLUSION

Adolescent and young women have varied contraceptive preferences that are associated with demographics and reproductive health experiences. Adolescent and young women's use of contraceptive methods that matched their preferences may improve satisfaction and engagement in care.

Predictors of More Effective Contraceptive Method Use at 12 Weeks Post-Abortion: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: Understanding factors associated with contraceptive use post-abortion can inform clinical practices to improve contraception uptake. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study included adult women who completed the survey before surgical abortion at an Atlanta, Georgia clinic, with an online survey 12 weeks later. Poisson regression models assessed associations between demographic and reproductive factors and use of more effective (contraceptive pill, ring, patch, injectables, intrauterine device [IUD], implant, sterilization) versus less effective (none, condoms, withdrawal, rhythm methods) contraception at follow-up. Results: Three hundred ninety three women completed the initial survey; 180 (46%) completed follow-up. Of those completing follow-up, 109 (61%) expressed interest in initiating more effective methods in-clinic, yet only 85 (47%) reported using these methods at follow-up. Sixty-one women (34%) were not using their preferred contraceptive at follow-up; 34 (56%) of whom preferred to use IUD, implant, or sterilization. More effective contraception use was significantly associated with age over 30 (adjusted risk ratio, aRR 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14-2.57); nulliparity (aRR 1.70, 95% CI: 1.20-2.42); use of more effective methods at most recent conception (aRR 2.56, 95% CI: 1.73-3.79); interest in more effective methods at the time of the abortion (aRR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.11-2.18); and receiving a contraceptive/prescription at the time of abortion (aRR 1.97, 95% CI: 1.37-2.81). Conclusions: Over half of women use less effective contraception 3 months post-abortion, despite a high interest in more effective contraception. Additional research is needed to understand contraceptive decision making in the context of abortion care to inform interventions to increase contraceptive uptake.

Promotion of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception Among Adolescents and Young Adults

INTRODUCTION

Intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants are recommended as first-line contraceptives by health care professional societies. However, uptake among US women lags substantially behind other developed countries. Little information is available on the extent to which clinicians document discussion about long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in this patient population. We sought to determine the frequency with which clinicians document LARC discussion with eligible women aged 14 to 25 years in a training clinic and evaluate factors associated with LARC discussion and uptake.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective chart review of all visits of nonpregnant women aged 14 to 25 years seen at an obstetrics and gynecology resident physician clinic during a calendar year. A logistic regression model was used to assess demographic factors associated with LARC education and uptake.

RESULTS

Among 450 visits by eligible patients, LARC discussion was documented during 47.8% (215/450) of visits. Among visits with documentation of LARC counseling, 45.6% (98/215) had documentation of a LARC placement plan. Among patients who decided to initiate LARC, 40.8% (40/98) had a device placed at the same visit. LARC placement was documented during 8.9% (40/450) of visits. Clinicians documented LARC counseling for women aged 14 to 19 years more frequently than for women aged 20 to 25 years. Compared with women who did not use any method of contraception, clinicians documented LARC counseling less frequently for women who used short-term hormonal contraception.

DISCUSSION

Clinicians in a training clinic did not document LARC counseling for more than half of eligible patients. Every clinical visit is an opportunity to assess risk of unintended pregnancy and ensure that contraceptive needs are addressed.

The Relationship Between Prescription Copayments and Contraceptive Adherence in a New-user Cohort

BACKGROUND

Contraceptive nonadherence is an important contributor to unintended pregnancy in the United States. While the elimination of patient cost sharing has been cited as means to improve contraceptive access, little is known about the relationship between cost sharing and ongoing adherence and continuation of chosen methods. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between copayment amount and adherence to pharmacy-dispensed contraception in young women.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 39,142 women ages 19-29 with a new prescription for the contraceptive pill, patch, or ring at Kaiser Permanente Northern California during 2011-2014. We examined 12-month nonadherence as measured by timely prescription refills and used multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to assess the association between copayment amount and the risk of nonadherence.

RESULTS

Ninety-four percent of women used the pill, and 6% used the patch or ring. Forty percent of patients had no copayment and 25% had a copayment of ≥$30. Nearly 75% of women were nonadherent during the study period. In 2013 and 2014, women with a copayment had a 9% increased risk of nonadherence (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.04, 1.14) compared with women with no copayment.

CONCLUSIONS

Prescription copayments may serve as a barrier to adherence of pharmacy-dispensed contraception. Given recent changes to Affordable Care Act contraceptive coverage requirement, these findings can be used to support state-level and health system-level policies for no-cost contraception, and to determine the potential public health impact of this policy change.

Contraception counseling for adolescents

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In recent years, pregnancy and birth rates among adolescents in the United States have declined to all-time lows, although adolescents in the United States continue to have the highest rate of unintended pregnancy among developed countries. Contraception is a key component in the prevention of unintended pregnancy. In this review, we outline unique barriers to reproductive healthcare for adolescents and strategies to optimally address the contraceptive needs of adolescents.

RECENT FINDINGS

Adolescents face barriers such as confidentiality, cost, and access when seeking contraception. Counseling about options for contraception may involve parents or guardians when appropriate, but an adolescent's autonomy should be respected in the decision-making process. Contraceptive counseling for adolescents must not be coercive in nature. Adolescents are at an increased risk for acquisition of sexually transmitted infections, and dual use, the use of condoms and an additional method of contraception, is highly recommended. Initiatives that remove the common barriers of cost and access have demonstrated significant success in increasing the use of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods and reducing the rates of unintended pregnancy among adolescents.

SUMMARY

Counseling adolescents about contraception requires acknowledgement of the unique barriers that adolescents face and facilitating decision-making about contraceptive methods in a manner that prioritizes the adolescent's autonomy.

Continuation of injectable contraception when self-injected vs. administered by a facility-based health worker: a nonrandomized, prospective cohort study in Uganda

Objective

The purpose of this study was to compare 12-month continuation rates for subcutaneous depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA-SC) administered via self-injection and DMPA-IM administered by a health worker in Uganda.

Study design

Women seeking injectable contraception at participating health facilities were offered the choice of self-injecting DMPA-SC or receiving an injection of DMPA-IM from a health worker. Those opting for self-injection were trained one-on-one. They self-injected under supervision and took home three units, a client instruction guide and a reinjection calendar. Those opting for DMPA-IM received an injection and an appointment card for the next facility visit in 3 months. We interviewed participants at baseline (first injection) and after 3 (second injection), 6 (third injection) and 9 (fourth injection) months, or upon discontinuation. We used Kaplan–Meier methods to estimate continuation probabilities, with a log-rank test to compare differences between groups. A multivariate Cox regression identified factors correlated with discontinuation.

Results

The 12-month continuation rate for the 561 women self-injecting DMPA-SC was .81 [95% confidence interval (CI) .78–.84], and for 600 women receiving DMPA-IM from a health worker, it was .65 (95% CI .61–.69), a significant difference at the .05 level. There were no differences in pregnancy rates or side effects. The multivariate analysis revealed that, controlling for covariates, self-injecting reduced the hazard for discontinuing by 46%. A significant interaction between injection group and age suggests that self-injection may help younger women continue injectable use.

Conclusions

The significant difference in 12-month continuation between women self-injecting DMPA-SC and women receiving DMPA-IM from a health worker — which remains significant in a multivariate analysis — suggests that self-injection may improve injectable contraceptive continuation.

Implications

While injectable contraceptives are popular throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa, they have high rates of discontinuation. This study is the second from an African country to demonstrate that self-injection may improve injectable continuation rates and may do so without increasing the risk of pregnancy or adverse events.

Contesting and Differentially Constructing Uncertainty: Negotiations of Contraceptive Use in the Clinical Encounter

Most women of reproductive age have access to highly effective contraception, and all available methods are associated with side effects. Whether a woman will experience side effects is uncertain, however, which can pose challenges for clinicians who discuss the methods with patients. In this study, we analyze 102 contraceptive counseling visits to understand how clinicians discursively construct knowledge in the context of uncertainty. We find that while some present the uncertainty of side effects in a straightforward, patient-accessible way, others negotiate their predictions by (1) differentially constructing uncertainty, suggesting that positive side effects are likely and negative side effects are unlikely, and (2) contesting uncertainty, presenting the risk of serious side effects as controllable. In the end, these strategies deemphasize consideration of negative side effects in women's contraceptive decision making. Our results demonstrate the importance of elucidating the translation, instantiation, and construction of medical uncertainty both in theory and in practice.

Twelve-month contraceptive continuation among women initiating short- and long-acting reversible contraceptives in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Context

Despite the inclusion of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in the minimum standards of health care in humanitarian settings, access to SRH services, and especially to contraception, is often compromised in war. Very little is known about continuation and switching of contraceptive methods in these settings. An evaluation of a contraceptive services program in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was conducted to measure 12-month contraceptive continuation by type of contraceptive method (short-acting or long-acting).

Methods

A stratified systematic sample of women who initiated a contraceptive method 12–18 months prior to data collection was selected retrospectively from facility registers. A total of 548 women was interviewed about their contraceptive use: 304 who began a short-acting method (pills, injectables) and 244 who began a long-acting method (intra-uterine devices, implants). Key characteristics of short-acting method versus long-acting method acceptors were compared using chi-square statistics for categorical data and t-tests for continuous data. Unadjusted and adjusted Cox proportional hazard ratios were estimated to assess factors associated with discontinuation.

Results

At 12 months, 81.6% women reported using their baseline contraceptive method continuously, with more long-acting than short-acting contraceptive acceptors (86.1% versus 78.0%, p = .02) continuing contraceptive use. Use of a short-acting method (Hazard ratio (HR) 1.74 [95%CI 1.13–2.67]) and desiring a child within two years (HR 2.58 [95%CI 1.45–4.54]) were associated with discontinuation within the first 12 months of use. The vast majority (88.3%) of women reported no prior contraceptive use.

Conclusion

This is the first study of contraceptive continuation in a humanitarian setting. The high percentages of women continuing contraceptive use found here demonstrates that women will choose to initiate and continue use of their desired contraceptive method, even in a difficult, unstable and low contraceptive prevalence setting like North Kivu.

One-year continuation of copper or levonorgestrel intrauterine devices initiated at the time of emergency contraception

OBJECTIVE(S)

This study compares 1-year intrauterine device (IUD) continuation among women presenting for emergency contraception (EC) and initiating the copper (Cu T380A) IUD or the levonorgestrel (LNG) 52 mg IUD plus 1.5 mg oral LNG.

STUDY DESIGN

This cohort study enrolled 188 women who presented at a single family planning clinic in Utah between June 2013 and September 2014 and selected either the Cu T380A IUD or LNG 52 mg IUD plus oral LNG for EC. Trained personnel followed participants by phone, text or e-mail for 12 months or until discontinuation occurred. We assessed reasons for discontinuation and used Cox proportional hazard models, Kaplan-Meier estimates and log-rank tests to assess differences in continuation rates between IUDs.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy-six women received IUDs; 66 (37%) chose the Cu T380A IUD and 110 (63%) chose the LNG 52 mg IUD plus oral LNG. At 1 year, we accounted for 147 (84%) participants, 33 (22%) had requested removals, 13 (9%) had an expulsion and declined reinsertion, 3 (2%) had a pregnancy with their IUD in place and 98 (67%) were still using their device. Continuation rates did not differ by IUD type; 60% of Cu T380A IUD users and 70% of LNG 52 mg IUD plus oral LNG users were still using their device at 12 months (adjusted hazard ratio 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.40-1.3).

CONCLUSION(S)

Two-thirds of women who chose IUD placement at the EC clinical encounter continued use at 1 year. Women initiating Cu T380A IUD and LNG 52 mg IUD had similar 1-year continuation rates. These findings support same-day insertion of IUDs for women who are seeking EC and would like to use a highly effective reversible method going forward.

IMPLICATIONS

Providing IUD options for EC users presents an opportunity to increase availability of highly effective contraception.

"Just Wear Dark Underpants Mainly": Learning from Adolescents' and Young Adults' Experiences with Early Discontinuation of the Contraceptive Implant

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Long-acting reversible contraception, including the contraceptive implant, is recommended for teens and young women. However, some young women discontinue the implant early, and we seek to better understand their experiences.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

We conducted interviews with 16 young women ages 14 to 24 who presented for removal of the contraceptive implant within 6 months after placement at outpatient adolescent, family medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology clinics. We coded and analyzed transcripts to identify themes and develop a thematic framework.

INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

We explored decision-making regarding placement and removal of the implant, differences between anticipated and experienced side effects, and recommendations for counseling.

RESULTS

The participants reported experiencing significant side effects that led to removal, most often frequent or heavy bleeding or mood changes. These healthy young women were unprepared for these symptoms, despite remembering being told about possible side effects. Participants wanted more concrete examples of possible side effects, and personal stories of side effects experienced by others, rather than general terms such as irregular bleeding or mood changes. Few discussed problems with their providers; instead, they relied on the Internet or friends to help decide when to remove the implant. Nearly half of the participants did not start new contraception after removal, although they voiced a continued desire to avoid pregnancy.

CONCLUSION

We identified a need for more descriptive counseling about side effects experienced by individuals, and guidance on what to do about problems encountered after placement.

Transdermal delivery of combined hormonal contraception: a review of the current literature

The transdermal patch provides an effective and convenient option for hormonal contraception. The patch currently on the US market contains 150 µg norelgestromin and 35 µg ethinylestradiol (EE). The 20 cm² patch is applied once weekly for 3 weeks, followed by a patch-free week, for a 21–7 cycle. Typical failure rates are similar to that of combined oral contraceptives (COCs). Transdermal delivery results in less peaks and troughs of estrogen, but a higher total estrogen exposure compared with COCs. Though studies show mixed results, the risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) is about twice as high with the patch as with COCs; however, the absolute risk of VTE remains low. The side effect profile is similar to that of COCs, with slightly higher rates of breast tenderness plus a unique adverse effect of application site reactions. Two new patches have been developed, one containing gestodene and EE in Europe and another containing levonorgestrel and EE. Overall, the patch provides an alternative to COCs for women who want autonomy and the benefit of not needing to take a pill daily, with similar efficacy and tolerability.

Intrauterine Contraception Continuation in Adolescents and Young Women: A Systematic Review

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Adolescents are at high risk for unintended pregnancies. Although intrauterine devices (IUDs), long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), are known to be highly effective in preventing pregnancy, little is known about IUD adherence in adolescents. In this systematic review (SR) we examined IUD continuation rates compared with other forms of contraception in young women aged 25 years and younger. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A systematic search of Ovid Medline, Cochrane Library, and Embase was conducted for the years 1946-2015. Included studies examined IUD use in women 25 years of age and younger, compared IUD use with another form of contraception, and measured continuation rates at 12 months. The quality of each study was appraised using the Downs and Black criteria, and 12-month continuation rates among studies were pooled and analyzed according to contraceptive type.

RESULTS

Of 3597 articles retrieved, 9 studies met criteria for SR. Synthesized across studies, 12-month continuation was significantly higher for IUD users (86.5%, 12,761/14,747) compared with oral contraceptives (39.6%, 1931/4873), Depo-Provera (Pfizer Inc, New York, NY) hormonal injection (39.8%, 510/1282), vaginal ring (48.9%, 196/401), and transdermal patch (39.8%, 37/93; all P values < .001). There was no statistically significant difference in 12-month continuation between the IUD and another LARC method, the subdermal etonogestrel implant (85.3%, 4671/5474).

CONCLUSION

Findings of this SR suggest that continuation rates for IUDs are generally higher compared with other contraceptive methods for women aged 25 years and younger. In a population with high rates of unintended pregnancies, generally low adherence, and imperfect use with other non-LARCs, IUD use should be encouraged.

Effects of relationship context on contraceptive use among young women

OBJECTIVES

To understand how relationship status influences contraceptive use among young people.

STUDY DESIGN

Data were collected as part of a longitudinal study on hormonal contraception among unmarried adolescent and young women who wanted to avoid pregnancy for at least one year, recruited at family planning clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area. Follow-up surveys were completed at 3, 6, and 12months. Longitudinal analysis was used to examine whether relationship characteristics, including type and length of sexual relationship are associated with current use of effective contraception.

RESULTS

Among women with a partner at baseline, 78%, 70%, and 61% had the same partner at 3, 6, and 12months follow up, respectively. Women in casual relationships were less likely to use effective contraceptive methods, compared to women in consistent relationships (AOR=0.67, p<.01). Women in new relationships (0-3months) were less likely to use effective contraceptive methods (AOR=0.60, p<.001) compared to women in relationships more than one year in length. Younger women (AOR=0.76, p<.05), black women (AOR=0.67, p<.05) and Latina women (AOR=0.73, p<.05) were also significantly less likely to use effective contraception. These effects remained even after controlling for condom use.

CONCLUSIONS

Relationship type and length are independently significantly associated with current effective contraceptive use among adolescent and young women. Women in casual relationships and new relationships were significantly less likely to use effective contraceptive methods.

IMPLICATIONS

Family planning providers should discuss women's relationship context and association with contraceptive use in order to help women think of contraception as a long-term personal strategy. Since relationship status affects contraceptive use, providers and programs that aim to reduce unintended pregnancy can consider strategies to create a paradigm shift around contraceptive use that focuses on the woman's reproductive goals, current life stage, and life goals.

Public Funding for Contraception, Provider Training, and Use of Highly Effective Contraceptives: A Cluster Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVES

We determined whether public funding for contraception was associated with long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) use when providers received training on these methods.

METHODS

We evaluated the impact of a clinic training intervention and public funding on LARC use in a cluster randomized trial at 40 randomly assigned clinics across the United States (2011-2013). Twenty intervention clinics received a 4-hour training. Women aged 18 to 25 were enrolled and followed for 1 year (n = 1500: 802 intervention, 698 control). We estimated the effects of the intervention and funding sources on LARC initiation with Cox proportional hazards models with shared frailty.

RESULTS

Women at intervention sites had higher LARC initiation than those at control (22 vs 18 per 100 person-years; adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04, 1.98). Participants receiving care at clinics with Medicaid family planning expansion programs had almost twice the initiation rate as those at clinics without (25 vs 13 per 100 person-years; AHR = 2.26; 95% CI = 1.59, 3.19). LARC initiation also increased among participants with public (AHR = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.09, 2.22) but not private health insurance.

CONCLUSIONS

Public funding and provider training substantially improve LARC access.

ERICA: sexual initiation and contraception in Brazilian adolescents

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of sexual initiation and contraceptive use at the last sexual intercourse of Brazilian adolescents, according to sociodemographic features. METHODS The data were obtained from the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), a national school-based cross-sectional study. We included 74,589 adolescents from 32 geographic strata (27 capitals and five sets of municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants of each of the five macro-regions of the Country). Information on sexual initiation and contraceptive use at the last sexual intercourse (male condom and oral contraceptive pill) has been used. We have estimated prevalence and confidence intervals (95%CI) considering sample weights according to sex, age, type of school, residence status, macro-region and capitals. RESULTS We observed that 28.1% (95%CI 27.0-29.2) of the adolescents had already initiated sexual life, with higher prevalence among those aged 17 years (56.4%, 95%CI 53.9-58.9), males (33.5%, 95%CI 31.8-35.2), studying at public schools (29.9%, 95%CI 28.5-31.4), and from the Northern region (33.9%, 95%CI 32.3-35.4), mainly from Macapa, Manaus, and Rio Branco. Among those who had started their sexual life, 82.3% (95%CI 81.1-83.4) reported the use of contraceptive methods at the last intercourse, and the prevalence of use was higher among adolescents aged 17 years (85.3%, 95%CI 82.7-87.6), females (85.2%, 95%CI 83.8-86.5) and those living in the Southern region (85.9%, 95%CI 82.9-88.5). Male condom was used by 68.8% (95%CI 66.9-70.7), with no difference by type of school or macro-regions; the contraceptive pill was used by 13.4% (CI95% 12.2-14.6), and more frequently used among women (24.7%, 95%CI 22.5-27,0) and 17-year-old adolescents (20.8%, 95%CI 18.2-23.6) from urban settings(13.7%, 95%CI 12.5-14.9) and from the Southern region (22.6%, 95%CI 19.0-26.8), and less often in the Northern region. CONCLUSIONS ERICA's data analysis on sexuality and contraception shows heterogeneities in the prevalence of sexual initiation and use of contraceptive methods among Brazilian adolescents, depending on their age, where they live, and the type of school they study at. Younger adolescents and those living in the Northern region seem to be more vulnerable to the consequences of unprotected sexual intercourses.

The relationship between long-acting reversible contraception and insurance coverage: a retrospective analysis

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to determine if there is a relationship between patients' financial responsibility (out-of-pocket expenses) and placement of long-acting, reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods among girls and women living in Appalachia who expressed interest in LARC device placement.

STUDY DESIGN

A retrospective chart analysis of patients prescribed an intrauterine device (IUD) or an etonogestrel implant between December 2011 and July 2013 in an Appalachian private practice was performed. Of the 571 identified patients aged 13 to 50, the majority were Caucasian (98.7%) and using Medicaid (53.2%). Outcomes measured the patients' decision regarding whether to use LARC after being informed of out-of-pocket expenses.

RESULTS

There was a dramatic increase in the proportion of patients who had LARC methods placed if expense was under $200 (p<.001). Placement rate for privately insured patients was 86.6% for those who paid less than $200 compared to 27.8% for those who paid $200 or more. Medicaid patients, for whom the device was free, had a 78.0% placement rate. For every additional $100 patients had to pay out of pocket, the odds of deciding to use the prescribed LARC method decreased.

CONCLUSIONS

LARC methods are utilized significantly more often when out-of-pocket cost is low. Cost appears to be a significant barrier to device placement for the group of privately insured Appalachian patients with out-of-pocket expenses over $200. Despite the improvements in coverage for many women provided under the Affordable Care Act, cost may remain a barrier for privately insured women who are required to pay some or all of the cost of LARC methods.

IMPLICATIONS

Unintended pregnancy rates in the United States remain high, especially in Appalachia. One contributing factor is reliance on user-dependent methods which have significantly high typical use failure rates. Placement of LARC methods for more patients could decrease unintended pregnancy, but device costs may be one barrier to utilization, even for those with private insurance.

Development of a brief questionnaire to assess contraceptive intent

OBJECTIVE

We sought to develop and validate an instrument that can enable providers to identify young women who may be at risk of contraceptive non-adherence.

METHODS

Item response theory based methods were used to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Contraceptive Intent Questionnaire, a 15-item self-administered questionnaire, based on theory and prior qualitative and quantitative research. The questionnaire was administered to 200 women aged 15-24 years who were initiating contraceptives. We assessed item fit to the item response model, internal consistency, internal structure validity, and differential item functioning.

RESULTS

All items fit a one-dimensional model. The separation reliability coefficient was 0.73. Participants' overall scores covered the full range of the scale (0-15), and items appropriately matched the range of participants' contraceptive intent. Items met the criteria for internal structure validity and most items functioned similarly between groups of women.

CONCLUSION

The Contraceptive Intent Questionnaire appears to be a reliable and valid tool. Future testing is needed to assess predictive ability and clinical utility.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The Contraceptive Intent Questionnaire may serve as a valid tool to help providers identify women who may have problems with contraceptive adherence, as well as to pinpoint areas in which counseling may be directed.

Hormonal and intrauterine methods for contraception for women aged 25 years and younger

BACKGROUND

Women between the ages of 15 and 24 years have high rates of unintended pregnancy; over half of women in this age group want to avoid pregnancy. However, women under age 25 years have higher typical contraceptive failure rates within the first 12 months of use than older women. High discontinuation rates may also be a problem in this population. Concern that adolescents and young women will not find hormonal or intrauterine contraceptives acceptable or effective might deter healthcare providers from recommending these contraceptive methods.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the contraceptive failure (pregnancy) rates and to examine the continuation rates for hormonal and intrauterine contraception among young women aged 25 years and younger.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched until 4 August 2015 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared hormonal or intrauterine methods of contraception in women aged 25 years and younger. Computerized databases included the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, POPLINE, CINAHL, and LILACS. We also searched for current trials via ClinicalTrials.gov and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP).

SELECTION CRITERIA

We considered RCTs in any language that reported the contraceptive failure rates for hormonal or intrauterine contraceptive methods, when compared with another contraceptive method, for women aged 25 years and younger. The other contraceptive method could have been another intrauterine contraceptive, another hormonal contraceptive or different dose of the same method, or a non-hormonal contraceptive. Treatment duration must have been at least three months. Eligible trials had to include the primary outcome of contraceptive failure rate (pregnancy). The secondary outcome was contraceptive continuation rate.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

One author conducted the primary data extraction and entered the information into Review Manager. Another author performed an independent data extraction and verified the initial entry. For dichotomous outcomes, we computed the Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Because of disparate interventions and outcome measures, we did not conduct meta-analysis.

MAIN RESULTS

Five trials met the inclusion criteria. The studies included a total of 1503 women, with a mean of 301 participants. The trials compared the following contraceptives: combined oral contraceptive (COC) versus transdermal contraceptive patch, vaginal contraceptive ring, or levonorgestrel intrauterine system 20 µg/day (LNG-IUS 20); LNG-IUS 12 µg/day (LNG-IUS 12) versus LNG-IUS 16 µg/day (LNG-IUS 16); and LNG-IUS 20 versus the copper T380A intrauterine device (IUD). In the trials comparing two different types of methods, the study arms did not differ significantly for contraceptive efficacy or continuation. The sample sizes were small for two of those studies. The only significant outcome was that a COC group had a higher proportion of women who discontinued for 'other personal reasons' compared with the group assigned to the LNG-IUS 20 (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.85), which may have little clinic relevance. The trial comparing LNG-IUS 12 versus LNG-IUS 16 showed similar efficacy over one and three years. In three trials that examined different LNG-IUS, continuation was at least 75% at 6 to 36 months.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We considered the overall quality of evidence to be moderate to low. Limitations were due to trial design or limited reporting. Different doses in the LNG-IUS did not appear to influence efficacy over three years. In another study, continuation of the LNG-IUS appeared at least as high as that for the COC. The current evidence was insufficient to compare efficacy and continuation rates for hormonal and intrauterine contraceptive methods in women aged 25 years and younger.

Reductions in pregnancy rates in the USA with long-acting reversible contraception: a cluster randomised trial

BACKGROUND

Unintended pregnancy remains a serious public health challenge in the USA. We assessed the effects of an intervention to increase patients' access to long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) on pregnancy rates.

METHODS

We did a cluster randomised trial in 40 reproductive health clinics across the USA in 2011-13. 20 clinics were randomly assigned to receive evidence-based training on providing counselling and insertion of intrauterine devices (IUDs) or progestin implants and 20 to provide standard care. Usual costs for contraception were maintained at all sites. We recruited women aged 18-25 years attending family planning or abortion care visits and not desiring pregnancy in the next 12 months. The primary outcome was selection of an IUD or implant at the clinic visit and secondary outcome was pregnancy within 12 months. We used generalised estimating equations for clustered data to measure the intervention effect on contraceptive selection, and used survival analysis to assess pregnancy rates.

FINDINGS

Of 1500 women enrolled, more at intervention than control sites reported receiving counselling on IUDs or implants (565 [71%] of 797 vs 271 [39%] of 693, odds ratio 3·8, 95% CI 2·8-5·2) and more selected LARCs during the clinic visit (224 [28%] vs 117 [17%], 1·9, 1·3-2·8). The pregnancy rate was lower in intervention group than in the control group after family planning visits (7·9 vs 15·4 per 100 person-years), but not after abortion visits (26·5 vs 22·3 per 100 person-years). We found a significant intervention effect on pregnancy rates in women attending family planning visits (hazard ratio 0·54, 95% CI 0·34-0·85).

INTERPRETATION

The pregnancy rate can be reduced by provision of counselling on long-term reversible contraception and access to devices during family planning counselling visits.

FUNDING

William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Choice of the levonorgestrel intrauterine device, etonogestrel implant or depot medroxyprogesterone acetate for contraception after aspiration abortion

OBJECTIVE

Women who have abortions are at high risk of contraception discontinuation and subsequent unintended pregnancy. The objective of this analysis was to identify factors associated with choice of highly effective, long-acting, progestin-only contraceptive methods after abortion.

STUDY DESIGN

Women presenting for surgical abortion who selected the levonorgestrel intrauterine device (IUD), the progestin implant or the progestin injection (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate or DMPA) as their postabortion contraceptives were recruited to participate in a 1-year prospective cohort study. We used multivariable multinomial logistic regression to identify factors associated with choosing long-acting reversible contraceptives (IUD or implant) compared to DMPA.

RESULTS

A total of 260 women, aged 18-45 years, enrolled in the study, 100 of whom chose the IUD, 63 the implant and 97 the DMPA. The women were 24.9 years old on average; 36% were black, and 29% were Latina. Fifty-nine percent had had a previous abortion, 66% a prior birth, and 55% were undergoing a second-trimester abortion. In multivariable analyses, compared with DMPA users, women who chose the IUD or the implant were less likely to be currently experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV); reported higher stress levels; weighed more; and were more likely to have finished high school, to have used the pill before and to report that counselors or doctors were helpful in making the decision (all significant at p<.05, see text for relative risk ratios and confidence intervals.) In addition, women who chose the IUD were less likely to be black (p<.01), and women who chose the implant were more likely to report that they would be unhappy to become pregnant within 6 months (p<.05) than DMPA users.

CONCLUSION

A variety of factors including race/ethnicity, past contraceptive use, feelings towards pregnancy, stress and weight were different between LARC and DMPA users. Notably, current IPV was associated with choice of DMPA over the IUD or implant, implying that a desire to choose a hidden method may be important to some women and should be included in counseling.

IMPLICATIONS

In contraceptive counseling, after screening for IPV, assessing patient's stress and taking a history about past contraceptive use, clinicians should discuss whether these factors might affect a patient's choice of method.

Providing long-acting reversible contraception services in Seattle school-based health centers: key themes for facilitating implementation

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to describe the implementation of a program that provides long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) services within school-based health centers (SBHCs) and to identify barriers and facilitators to implementation as reported by SBHC clinicians and administrators, public health officials, and community partners.

METHODS

We conducted 14 semistructured interviews with key informants involved in the implementation of LARC services. Key informants included SBHC clinicians and administrators, public health officials, and community partners. We used a content analysis approach to analyze interview transcripts for themes. We explored barriers to and facilitators of LARC service delivery across and within key informant groups.

RESULTS

The most cited barriers across key informant groups were as follows: perceived lack of provider procedural skills and bias and negative attitudes about LARC methods. The most common facilitators identified across groups were as follows: clear communication strategies, contraceptive counseling practice changes, provider trainings, and stakeholder engagement. Two additional barriers emerged in specific key informant groups. Technical and logistical barriers to LARC service delivery were cited heavily by SBHC administrative staff, community partners, and public health officials. Expense and billing was a major barrier to SBHC administrative staff.

CONCLUSIONS

LARC counseling and procedural services can be implemented in an SBHC setting to promote access to effective contraceptive options for adolescent women.