Document Detail


Perceptions of the safety of oral contraceptives among a predominantly Latina population in Texas.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20159184     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Fear of side effects and previous negative experiences are common reasons for contraceptive nonuse.
STUDY DESIGN: We collected information about perceptions of oral contraceptive (OC) safety from 1271 women 18-49 years old in El Paso, TX, and compared their responses to a medical evaluation by a nurse practitioner. We also asked participants about their interest in obtaining OCs over the counter (OTC).
RESULTS: Among 794 women potentially at risk of unintended pregnancy, 56.0% said that OCs were medically safe for them. Reasons given for OCs being unsafe were related to fears of side effects and prior negative experiences rather than true contraindications. Older women and participants recruited at the less affluent recruitment site were significantly more likely to report that OCs were medically unsafe for them (p<.05). Nonusers who thought OCs were medically unsafe for them were as likely to be medically eligible for use as current hormonal users. Among nonusers or nonhormonal users and potential OC candidates (n=601), 60.2% said they would be more likely to use OCs if they were available OTC.
CONCLUSIONS: Women's perception of OC safety does not correlate well with medical eligibility for use. More education about the safety and health benefits of hormonal contraception is needed. OTC availability might contribute to more positive safety perceptions of OCs compared to a prescription environment.
Authors:
Daniel Grossman; Leticia Fernández; Kristine Hopkins; Jon Amastae; Joseph E Potter
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2009-10-29
Journal Detail:
Title:  Contraception     Volume:  81     ISSN:  1879-0518     ISO Abbreviation:  Contraception     Publication Date:  2010 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-02-17     Completed Date:  2010-05-03     Revised Date:  2011-07-25    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0234361     Medline TA:  Contraception     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  254-60     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Ibis Reproductive Health, Oakland, CA 94612, USA. dgrossman@ibisreproductivehealth.org
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Age Factors
Contraception Behavior / ethnology*,  psychology
Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / therapeutic use*
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
Hispanic Americans / psychology*
Humans
Patient Education as Topic
Questionnaires
Socioeconomic Factors
Texas
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
R01 HD047816-01A1/HD/NICHD NIH HHS; R01-HD047816/HD/NICHD NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal
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