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Greil AL, Wallace DD, Passet-Wittig J, McQuillan J, Bujard M, Lowry MH. Self-Perceived Infertility is Not Always Associated with Having Fewer Children: Evidence from German Panel Data. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF POPULATION = REVUE EUROPEENNE DE DEMOGRAPHIE 2024; 40:8. [PMID: 38347334 PMCID: PMC10861411 DOI: 10.1007/s10680-023-09692-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Proximate determinants theory considers infertility rates a risk factor for lower fertility rates, but the assumption that people who perceive infertility will have fewer children has not been tested. This study investigates the association of self-perceived infertility with the number of children people have had after 11 years. Infertility implies reduced chances of conception (rather than sterility), but people do not always consistently perceive infertility over time. If people who think they are infertile at one time can later report no infertility, then does self-perceived infertility necessarily lead to having fewer children? We answer this question by analyzing 11 waves of the German family panel (pairfam) data using negative binomial growth curve models for eight core demographic subgroups created by combinations of gender (men/women), parity (0/1+children), and initial age groups (25-27 and 35-37). Those who repeatedly perceived themselves to be infertile (three times or more) had fewer children than those who perceived themselves to be infertile once or twice in only four of eight gender by initial parity by age groups. Only in four groups did people who perceived themselves to be infertile once or twice have fewer children than those who never perceived themselves to be infertile in both the unadjusted and adjusted models. Thus, self-perceived infertility does not necessarily result in fewer children. Rather, the association depends upon life course context and gender.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur L Greil
- Division of Social Sciences, Alfred University, Alfred, NY, USA
| | | | - Jasmin Passet-Wittig
- Family and Fertility Research Area, Federal Institute for Population Research, Wiesbaden, Germany
| | - Julia McQuillan
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Martin Bujard
- Family and Fertility Research Area, Federal Institute for Population Research, Wiesbaden, Germany.
| | - Michele H Lowry
- Division of Social Sciences, Alfred University, Alfred, NY, USA
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Anyatonwu OP, Nwoku KA, Jonsson H, Namatovu F. The determinants of postpartum contraceptive use in Nigeria. Front Glob Womens Health 2023; 4:1284614. [PMID: 38148926 PMCID: PMC10749970 DOI: 10.3389/fgwh.2023.1284614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Postpartum contraception is vital for maternal and child health, and reduces the risk of infant mortality. The Health Belief Model (HBM) is a widely accepted framework for exploring health behaviors, such as contraceptive use. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the factors influencing postpartum contraceptive use in Nigeria and to contextualize the findings within the framework of the HBM. Methods This study was a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected from the Demographic Health Survey conducted in Nigeria (NDHS). In total, 28,041 women were included in this study. Self-reported contraceptive use was the outcome, while the explanatory variables included maternal age, place of residence, region of residence, religion, marital status, educational level, household wealth quintiles, knowledge of the ovulatory cycle, decision-maker for health care, and distance to health care facilities. Descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression were used to summarize and identify factors influencing postpartum contraceptive use. The HBM was used to discuss the main findings. Results The prevalence of postpartum contraceptive use in Nigeria is 27%. Our findings showed that the odds of using contraceptives during the postpartum period were higher among women who knew their ovulation cycles, lived in urban areas in the southern region, had no distance barriers to health care, and were 25-49 years old. Education, wealth, and marital status also increase the odds of contraceptive use. However, women who lived in the northeast and northwest regions or shared decision-making with their partners had lower odds. Conclusion This study highlights the need for region-specific and age-focused interventions to increase contraceptive use in Nigeria. Additionally, increasing accessibility and affordability of contraceptives for younger and economically disadvantaged women, along with promoting women's autonomy in decision-making, can further enhance contraceptive use across Nigeria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kelechi Amy Nwoku
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Håkan Jonsson
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Fredinah Namatovu
- Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Centre for Demographic and Aging Research at Umeå University (CEDAR), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Martín-Payo R, Gonzalez-Mendez X, Carrasco-Santos S, Muñoz-Mancisidor A, Papin-Cano C, Fernandez-Alvarez MDM. Assessment of content, behavior change techniques, and quality of unintended pregnancy apps in Spain: Systematic search on app stores. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231173563. [PMID: 37197412 PMCID: PMC10184260 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231173563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Unintended pregnancies are a public health problem that represents 48% of global pregnancies. Despite the proliferation of smartphones there is limited data on the app's features on unintended pregnancy. The purpose of this research was to identify free apps available in Spanish, in the iOS Store and Google Play, which can be recommended to prevent unintended pregnancies in adolescents. Methods A systematic search to identify apps was performed in the iOS App Store and in Google Play aiming to replicate the way a patient might access an "unintended pregnancy prevention" app. Additionally, the quality, using the Mobile Application Rating Scale, and content were assessed. Results A total of 4614 apps were identified, of which 8 were retrieved for assessment (0.17%). The mean for objective and subject quality was 3.39 (standard deviation (SD) = 0.694) and 1.84 (SD = 0.626), respectively. A total of 16 thematic categories were identified. The mean of topics covered in the apps was 5.38 (SD = 2.925) being those related to contraception the more frequent. Conclusion The results of the present study suggest that only a small percentage of free pregnancy prevention apps in Spanish should be recommended. The contents of the apps retrieved meet the potential necessities of adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Martín-Payo
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- PRECAM Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
- Área Sanitaria 3, Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias, Avilés, Spain
| | - Xana Gonzalez-Mendez
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- Área Sanitaria 3, Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias, Avilés, Spain
| | - Sergio Carrasco-Santos
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- PRECAM Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
- Área Sanitaria 3, Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias, Avilés, Spain
| | - Aranzazu Muñoz-Mancisidor
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- PRECAM Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
- Área Sanitaria 3, Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias, Avilés, Spain
| | - Cristina Papin-Cano
- PRECAM Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
- Área Sanitaria 3, Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias, Avilés, Spain
| | - María del Mar Fernandez-Alvarez
- Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
- PRECAM Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
- Área Sanitaria 3, Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias, Avilés, Spain
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Galvin AM, Garg A, Griner SB, Diener AK, Thompson EL. ‘The chances are zero’: a qualitative study on perceived susceptibility to pregnancy among women experiencing homelessness. Sex Health 2022; 19:164-171. [DOI: 10.1071/sh21241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Callegari LS, Nelson KM, Arterburn DE, Dehlendorf C, Magnusson SL, Benson SK, Schwarz EB, Borrero S. Development and Pilot Testing of a Patient-Centered Web-Based Reproductive Decision Support Tool for Primary Care. J Gen Intern Med 2021; 36:2989-2999. [PMID: 33538956 PMCID: PMC8481447 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-020-06506-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patient-centered counseling to help women achieve their reproductive goals is an essential yet often absent component of primary care. OBJECTIVE We developed and piloted MyPath, a novel web-based decision support tool integrating reproductive goals assessment, information about optimizing health before pregnancy, and contraceptive decision support, for use prior to primary care visits in the Veterans Administration (VA). DESIGN We created MyPath using best practices for decision tool development, including a conceptual framework informed by theory and user-centered design with input from patients, providers, and scientific experts. We conducted a non-randomized pilot in two VA Women's Health primary care clinics. A control group (n = 28) was recruited prior to and intervention group (n = 30) recruited after introduction of MyPath into clinics. PARTICIPANTS Women Veterans ages 18-44 with an upcoming visit scheduled with one of eight providers. INTERVENTIONS After recruitment of controls, providers and staff received a brief introduction to MyPath. Patients scheduled to see providers in the intervention phase used MyPath on an iPad in the waiting room prior to their visit. MAIN MEASURES Acceptability, feasibility, discussions about pregnancy and/or contraceptive needs, and contraceptive decision quality by a survey of participants and providers. KEY RESULTS Nearly all participants who used MyPath reported they learned new information (97%) and would recommend it to other Veterans (93%). No providers reported that MyPath significantly increased workload. A greater proportion of intervention participants reported having discussions about reproductive needs in their visit compared to controls (93% vs 68%; p = 0.02). Intervention participants also experienced greater increases in pre-/post-visit knowledge and communication self-efficacy and a trend towards greater reduction in contraceptive decision conflict compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS MyPath was highly acceptable to women, increased the proportion of primary care visits addressing reproductive needs, and improved decision quality without increasing providers' perceived workload. A larger randomized evaluation of effectiveness is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa S Callegari
- Health Services Research and Development, Seattle-Denver Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Karin M Nelson
- Health Services Research and Development, Seattle-Denver Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David E Arterburn
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Christine Dehlendorf
- Department of Family Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sara L Magnusson
- Health Services Research and Development, Seattle-Denver Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Samantha K Benson
- Health Services Research and Development, Seattle-Denver Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - E Bimla Schwarz
- Department of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sonya Borrero
- Center for Health Equity, Research, and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Wenzel SG, Zabielski B, Borowski S. Contraceptive Needs Among Women Recently Incarcerated at a Rural Appalachian Jail. WOMEN'S HEALTH REPORTS (NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.) 2021; 2:263-272. [PMID: 34318296 PMCID: PMC8310744 DOI: 10.1089/whr.2021.0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Background: Incarceration is associated with negative sexual and reproductive health outcomes. We examined contraceptive needs among women incarcerated at a rural Appalachian jail with emphasis on pregnancy history, recent contraceptive use, and current and near-future contraceptive needs. Materials and Methods: A survey was administered to newly incarcerated women at a jail in Southwest Virginia. It included questions about (1) prior pregnancies; (2) pregnancy intentions, contraceptive use, and sexual activity in the 3 months before jail; (3) unprotected sex in the 5 days before jail; (4) interest in contraceptive education and access during incarceration; and (5) post-release sexual activity, pregnancy, and contraceptive plans. Results: One hundred ninety-three women completed surveys. Analyses focused on the 95 at risk for pregnancy. Fifty-eight percent of prior pregnancies on which women provided intention information were unintended, with 74% of respondents reporting at least 1 such pregnancy. Ninety-four percent of women reported vaginal intercourse during the 3 months before jail. Only 46% of those who did not want to get pregnant reported consistent contraceptive use. Condoms and withdrawal were the most common methods used. Forty percent of women were eligible for emergency contraception (EC). Most (78%) participants anticipated sex with a man within 6 months of release, and most (63%) did not want to become pregnant within a year of release. Almost half (47%) expressed interest in receiving birth control while in jail. Conclusions: Results support the need to offer women EC on incarceration, family planning education during confinement, and effective birth control before release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie G. Wenzel
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Barbie Zabielski
- New River Health District, Virginia Department of Health, Christiansburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Shelby Borowski
- Department of Human Development and Family Science, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
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Perceived likelihood of becoming pregnant and contraceptive use: Findings from population-based surveys in Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Rajasthan, India. Contraception 2021; 103:431-438. [PMID: 33587907 PMCID: PMC8129551 DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2021.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Advancing reproductive autonomy requires targeted strategies and interventions that address barriers to contraceptive use. The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether perceptions of low pregnancy likelihood are associated with lower likelihood of using contraception among presumably fecund, sexually active women. STUDY DESIGN We used population-based survey data of reproductive age women at risk of pregnancy collected in 2018 from Côte d'Ivoire (N = 1447), Nigeria (N = 4110), and Rajasthan, India (N = 1994). To assess one's perceived biological likelihood of pregnancy, we used 2 measures: likelihood following a single act of sex without contraception and likelihood following 1 year of regular sex without contraception. Response options included: definitely yes, maybe yes, maybe no, definitely no, and do not know. We conducted multivariable logistic regression to assess the relationship between each perception measure with odds of contraceptive use separately by country. RESULTS Perceived chance of definitely or maybe becoming pregnant after one act of sex without contraception ranged from 54.0% to 55.0% in Nigeria and Rajasthan to 80.0% in Côte d'Ivoire, while it was higher for regular sex without contraception (76.0%-85.1%). Multivariable results indicate that perceptions of pregnancy likelihood were associated with contraceptive use among presumably fecund women, with a stronger relationship observed in relation to cumulative likelihood (odds ratio 0.1-0.6) than likelihood after one act (odds ratio 0.4-0.8) and a dose-response pattern by strength of perceived chance. CONCLUSIONS Results indicate that women's use of contraception in low-resource settings is associated with their perceived likelihood of becoming pregnant after unprotected sex. IMPLICATIONS Findings suggest that understanding women's perceived likelihood of pregnancy may aid in the development of interventions to help women achieve their reproductive goals.
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Gemmill A, Sedlander E, Bornstein M. Variation in Self-Perceived Fecundity among Young Adult U.S. Women. Womens Health Issues 2021; 31:31-39. [PMID: 32839092 PMCID: PMC7769880 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals' perceptions of their fecundity, or biological ability to bear children, have important implications for health behaviors, including infertility help-seeking and contraceptive use. Little research has examined these perceptions among U.S. women. METHODS This cross-sectional study examines perceptions of one's own fecundity among U.S. women aged 24 to 32 who participated in the 2009-2011 rounds of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (1997) cohort. Analyses were limited to 3,088 women who indicated that they or their partners never received a doctor's diagnosis regarding fertility difficulties. RESULTS Of the women in the sample, 67% perceived their hypothetical chances of becoming pregnant as very likely; the remainder perceived their chances as somewhat likely (13%), not as likely (15%), or provided a "don't know" response (6%). Twenty-six percent of Black women and 19% of Latina women perceived themselves as not very likely to become pregnant, compared with only 12% among non-Black/non-Latina women (p < .001). Only 6% of women with a college degree perceived their chances of becoming pregnant as not very likely, compared with 36% among women without a high school degree (p < .001). Racial/ethnic and educational differences persisted in fully adjusted models. Other factors associated with fecundity self-perceptions include partnership status, parity, fertility expectations, sexual activity, prolonged exposure to unprotected intercourse for at least 6 and/or 12 months without becoming pregnant, and self-rated health. CONCLUSIONS Findings indicate that self-perceived fecundity differs systematically by demographic and other characteristics. This phenomenon should be investigated further to understand how it may influence disparities in health behaviors and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Gemmill
- Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.
| | - Erica Sedlander
- Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Marta Bornstein
- Department of Community Health Sciences and the California Center for Population Research, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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