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Gomez AM, Rafie S, Garner-Ford E, Arcara J, Arteaga S, Britter M, De La Cruz M, Gleaton SK, Gomez-Vidal C, Luna B, Ortiz C, Rivera MC, Schuman L, Watanabe M, Logan R. Community perspectives on pharmacist-prescribed hormonal contraception in rural California. Contraception 2022; 114:10-17. [PMID: 35671841 DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2022.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In the United States, numerous states have enabled pharmacists to prescribe hormonal contraception. Little research focuses on the perspectives of potential users of this service in rural communities. This study sought to describe awareness of, interest in, acceptability of, and support for pharmacist-prescribed contraception in a rural California county. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a community-based survey in 2019-20 in Tulare County, California. Researchers partnered with community members to design, implement, and analyze the survey. We recruited respondents who were ages 15 to 44 and assigned female sex at birth, using passive community-based approaches, social media advertisements, and social networks. Analyses focused on 177 respondents with a potential future need for contraception. RESULTS Thirty-one percent of respondents were aware that pharmacists could prescribe hormonal contraception in California, with more accurate knowledge among older respondents (p = 0.015). After receiving brief educational information about pharmacist-prescribed contraception, respondents expressed high levels of support and acceptability: they perceived pharmacist-prescribed contraception to be safe, time saving, and more convenient. Respondents were more comfortable talking about contraception with traditional contraceptive care providers compared to asking pharmacists questions about contraception. Fifty-seven percent were somewhat or very interested in obtaining contraception from a pharmacist, with higher levels of interest among those who preferred to use a different method. CONCLUSION Awareness of pharmacist-prescribed contraception in a rural California community was low, though people are supportive of and interested in utilizing this service. This research suggests that increased availability of pharmacist-prescribed contraception could support individuals' reproductive self-determination and address gaps in access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Manchikanti Gomez
- Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United State.
| | - Sally Rafie
- Department of Pharmacy, University of California, San Diego Health, San Diego, CA, United State; Birth Control Pharmacist, San Diego, CA, United State
| | | | - Jennet Arcara
- Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United State
| | - Stephanie Arteaga
- Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United State
| | - Morgan Britter
- Central Valley Voices for Access, Visalia, CA, United State
| | - Monica De La Cruz
- Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United State
| | | | - Cristina Gomez-Vidal
- Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United State
| | - Brianna Luna
- Central Valley Voices for Access, Visalia, CA, United State
| | | | | | - Logan Schuman
- Central Valley Voices for Access, Visalia, CA, United State
| | - Mia Watanabe
- Central Valley Voices for Access, Visalia, CA, United State
| | - Rachel Logan
- Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United State
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