Women's Health Issues
Volume 18, Issue 5, 2008, Pages 360-368

Who is Using Emergency Contraception?. Awareness and Use of Emergency Contraception Among California Women and Teens (Article)

Baldwin S.B.* , Solorio R. , Washington D.L. , Yu H. , Huang Y.-C. , Brown E.R.
  • a Office of Health Assessment and Epidemiology, Los Angeles County Department of Pubic Health, Los Angeles, CA, United States
  • b University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Department of Health Services, Seattle, WA, United States
  • c VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, United States, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Department of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
  • d University of California Los Angeles, School of Public Health, Center for Health Policy Research, Los Angeles, CA, United States
  • e University of California Los Angeles, School of Public Health, Center for Health Policy Research, Los Angeles, CA, United States
  • f University of California Los Angeles, School of Public Health, Center for Health Policy Research, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

Introduction: Emergency contraception (EC) reduces women's risk for pregnancy after unprotected intercourse, and women's awareness of the method is increasingly important for expanding access. However, knowledge of EC alone does not predict use, and few population data exist to describe EC use among those aware of the method. Methods: Using data from the 2003 California Health Interview Survey, we measured EC awareness among 11,392 women ages 15-44, and EC use among 7,178 respondents who were aware of EC and at risk for pregnancy. Using χ2 analyses and multivariable logistic regression, we examined population characteristics that epidemiologically predict EC awareness and use, including age, race/ethnicity, income, health insurance status, usual source of health care, immigration status, languages spoken at home, and urban versus rural residence. Results: Nearly 76% of respondents had heard of EC, but awareness was lower among teens, women of color, poor women, women with publicly funded health insurance, those without a usual source of care, immigrants, non-English-language speakers, and rural residents. Among women aware of EC, about 4% reported having used the method in the previous year; young age, low income, attending a community/government clinic for care or not having a source of care, and living in an urban area significantly increased the odds for using EC. Conclusions: Among California women in 2003, awareness and use of EC remained low. However, similar rates of use were reported among racial, ethnic, and linguistic subgroups. Those most likely to report use of the method included population groups at high risk for unintended pregnancy. © 2008 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

urban area rural area emergency contraception lowest income group logistic regression analysis race difference poverty health insurance immigration language Patient Education as Topic United States income social status Humans Adolescent California Chi-Square Distribution residential area Socioeconomic Factors female Multivariate Analysis adolescence pregnancy Contraceptives, Postcoital Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Article women's health health care Contraception, Postcoital Questionnaires adult awareness Patient Acceptance of Health Care ethnicity Pregnancy, Unplanned
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-50649105278&doi=10.1016%2fj.whi.2008.06.005&partnerID=40&md5=eafd249e0f98e8a92b69542cb44b4ced
DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2008.06.005
ISSN: 10493867
Cited by: 31
Original Language: English