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Emergency hormonal contraception usage in genitourinary medicine clinic attenders.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the indications for usage of emergency hormonal contraception amongst a population of London genitourinary medicine clinic attenders. METHODS: In a prospective study, 150 consecutive women receiving emergency hormonal contraception (EHC) were enrolled. The attending doctor completed a questionnaire of patient details and prescribed EHC with prophylactic prochlorperazine. Follow-up was arranged three weeks later, at which time outcomes and side-effects of therapy were recorded. For those women who did not reattended as planned case notes were reviewed at three months. RESULTS: Of 150 women surveyed, 100 (66%) reported contraceptive method failure, 48 (32%) had used no contraception at the time of last sexual intercourse and two requested EHC after sexual assault. Ninety three (62%) reported condom failure, 7 (5%) oral contraceptive pill failure. Seventy five (50%) had used EHC before (range 1-10 times). Seventy one (47%) women reattended within three months. Five (3.3%) of the 150 women were pregnant; none of these cases had experienced nausea or vomiting whilst taking EHC. Side-effects were reported by 22 (31%) of the 71 patients who reattended. Nine (6%) women had been followed-up in the family planning advisory clinic. Of the 71 women who reattended, 39 (55%) reported that their preferred future method of contraception would be condoms. Of the 150 women 19 (13%) underwent tests for sexually transmissible infections within one month of presentation. CONCLUSIONS: EHC usage in this population was associated with a failure rate of at least 3.3% and an overall side effect rate of 31%. Despite requests for emergency contraception because of condom failure many elected to continue using condoms as their preferred method of contraception. The majority of women (53%) did not return for follow-up or family planning advice, and so we believe that future contraceptive plans must be addressed at the time EHC is prescribed.

Adolescent↗

Oral contraceptives and pelvic inflammatory disease.

To study the association of the use of oral contraceptives and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), we analyzed data from a large multicenter case-control study of contraceptive use and serious gynecologic disorders. The analysis included data from interviews of 648 women hospitalized with an initial episode of PID and 2,516 hospitalized control subjects. The risk of PID for women using oral contraceptives in the 3 months prior to interview was 0.5 (95% confidence limits, 0.4 to 0.6) relative to women using no contraceptive method during this period. This association was not explained by differences between case subjects and control subjects in demographic variables, level of sexual activity, or medical history. The protective effect of current oral contraceptive use against PID was restricted to women using oral contraceptives for more than 12 months; past use of oral contraceptives did not exert a protective effect against PID. Annually, an estimated 50,000 initial cases of PID are prevented by oral contraceptive use; 12,500 hospitalizations are also averted by oral contraceptive use. Consequently, protection against PID is one of the most important noncontraceptive benefits of oral contraception.

Adolescent↗

Estimates of the risk of cardiovascular death attributable to low-dose oral contraceptives in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to estimate the annual risk of death in the United States from cardiovascular disease attributable to low-dose combination oral contraceptives. STUDY DESIGN: Estimates of the risk of death from cardiovascular disease attributable to low-dose oral contraceptives were modeled on data from studies published through 1997 and from age-specific mortality rates in the United States for 1993 and 1994. RESULTS: Attributable risk of death from cardiovascular disease resulting from oral contraceptive use is 0.06 and 3.0 per 100,000 nonsmokers 15 to 34 years of age and 35 to 44 years of age, respectively. In smokers this risk increases, respectively, to 1.73 and 19.4 per 100,000 users in these 2 age groups; however, 97% and 85% of this risk is due to the combined effects of smoking and using oral contraceptives. The attributable risk of death from cardiovascular disease in nonsmoking oral contraceptive users is lower than the risk of death from pregnancy in nonusers of oral contraceptives at all ages; however, among smoking oral contraceptive users more than 35 years of age, the excess risk of death from oral contraceptives is higher than the risk of death from pregnancy. CONCLUSION: There is virtually no excess attributable risk of death from cardiovascular disease related to oral contraceptive use in young women. However, smokers more than 35 years of age should use a nonestrogen contraceptive.

Adolescent↗

Knowledge and willingness to use emergency contraception among low-income post-partum women.

We performed a multivariate analysis to determine factors associated with knowledge and willingness to use emergency contraception in a consecutive sample of 371 post-partum women from an inner-city public hospital. Women were queried about previous contraceptive use, pregnancy history including abortions and unplanned pregnancies, and demographic characteristics. Outcomes included knowledge of emergency contraception and willingness to use it. Questionnaires were conducted in person, in English or Spanish.Of 371 women, 3% had used emergency contraception, 36% had heard of it, and 7% knew the correct timing for use. Two-thirds of the population indicated a willingness to use emergency contraception in the future. Factors positively associated with knowledge included being a teenager or more than 30 years old, prior use of condoms, and history of an elective abortion. Being multiparous, monolingual Spanish-speaking, or Asian were negatively associated with knowledge. Willingness to use emergency contraception was positively associated with being multiparous and negatively associated with a higher income, moral or religious objections to the use of emergency contraception, a belief that it is unsafe or a perception that it is an abortificient. Knowledge about emergency contraception, especially correct timing, remains low. Multiparous women should receive increased education given their lack of knowledge but willingness to use emergency contraception. In order to increase the acceptability of emergency contraception, educational efforts must include accurate information about its mechanism of use and safety.

Adolescent↗

Epidemiology of oral contraceptives and cardiovascular disease.

PURPOSE: To review the association between combined oral contraceptives and cardiovascular disease, with emphasis on oral contraceptives containing low doses of estrogen (low-dose oral contraceptives). DATA SOURCES: A systematic search of the MEDLINE database was done for all relevant articles published between 1967 (when low-dose oral contraceptives were introduced in the United States) and June 1997. Textbooks, meeting proceedings, and reference lists were also searched. STUDY SELECTION: All English-language human epidemiology studies of oral contraceptives that used cardiovascular disease as an end point were reviewed. Animal and metabolic studies were reviewed only if they were especially relevant to the mechanism of action of oral contraceptives. DATA EXTRACTION: Descriptive and analytic data from each study were collected. DATA SYNTHESIS: Data were organized by cardiovascular end point, study design, estrogen dose, and type of progestogen. Data on relative and absolute risk are presented to address current prescription guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The risk for cardiovascular disease is lower with current preparations of oral contraceptives, including those that contain the new progestogens, than with older oral contraceptives containing high doses of estrogen. Among users of low-dose oral contraceptives, cardiovascular diseases occur mainly in smokers and women with predisposing factors. Every effort should be made to encourage smoking cessation among potential users of oral contraceptives.

Animals↗

Pregnancies averted among U.S. teenagers by the use of contraceptives.

CONTEXT: The personal and social costs associated with teenage pregnancy in the United States concern many policymakers and researchers, yet the role of contraception in preventing these pregnancies has not been adequately quantified. METHODS: Published estimates of contraceptive effectiveness were applied to 1995 National Survey of Family Growth data on sexual and contraceptive practices in order to estimate the number of pregnancies averted through the use of contraceptives by U.S. teenagers. Four scenarios of contraceptives access--from current levels of access to highly restricted access--and teenagers' sexual and contraceptive practices in response to such restrictions are used to project the potential impact on pregnancies among teenagers. RESULTS: Current levels of contraceptive use averted an estimated 1.65 million pregnancies among 15-19-year-old women in the United States during 1995. If these young women had been denied access to both prescription and over-the-counter contraceptive methods, an estimated one million additional pregnancies (ranging from 750,000 to 1.25 million) would have occurred, assuming some decrease in sexual activity. These pregnancies would have led to 480,000 live births, 390,000 abortions, 120,000 miscarriages, 10,000 ectopic pregnancies and 37 maternal deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Contraceptive use by teenage women prevents pregnancies and negative pregnancy-related health consequences that can disrupt the lives of adolescent women and that have substantial societal costs. Continued and expanded access to contraceptives for adolescents is a critically important public health strategy.

Adolescent↗

Women's experience and satisfaction with emergency contraception.

CONTEXT: If any new contraceptive technology is to become a viable option for decreasing unintended pregnancies, women must be willing to use the method and find it acceptable. However, because emergency contraceptive pills have not been widely used, very little is known about this method's acceptability. METHODS: Telephone interviews were conducted with 235 women who had received emergency contraceptive pills through a demonstration project at 13 Kaiser Permanente medical offices in San Diego to assess women's experience and satisfaction with the pills. RESULTS: More than two-thirds of the women (70%) were using a contraceptive method prior to their need for emergency contraception, and 73% of these users were relying on condoms. When asked about the situation that led to unprotected intercourse, 45% reported that their condom broke or slipped, while 23% said they had had unplanned sex. More than three-quarters of the sample (81%) experienced at least one side effect. The overwhelming majority were satisfied with emergency contraceptive pills (91%) and would recommend them to friends and family members (97%). Just one-quarter of the sample (28%) believed that emergency contraceptive pills should be dispensed over the counter, and an even lower proportion agreed that they should be available from vending machines (6%). CONCLUSIONS: Because women were overwhelmingly accepting of emergency contraceptive pills, found them easy to use and did not intend to substitute them for regular contraceptive use, this new method is an important addition to the contraceptive options available to women, providing a way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse or method failure.

Adolescent↗

New contraceptive methods.

OBJECTIVE: To provide an update on the current trend toward increasing use of emergency postcoital contraception, continuous (or "extended-use") oral contraceptives (OCs) and longer-acting contraceptive delivery systems. DATA SOURCES: This review is based largely upon patient care-oriented clinical experience data, including some original work submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the primary investigators of these novel methods, supplemented, when appropriate, with basic pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic information. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: This review is a distillation based on an exhaustive literature search of each of the following topics: emergency postcoital contraception, continuous (extended-use) oral contraception, the weekly patch, the monthly vaginal ring and the monthly injectable. The issue of OC formulations recently begun to be marketed in this country was excluded since they have been extensively reviewed elsewhere. RESULTS: Emergency postcoital contraception is highly effective, though not as effective as available proactive methods of hormonal contraception. Of the popular regimens available, all have similar efficacy; those without estrogen are associated with less nausea and vomiting. The prophylactic administration of an antiemetic 1 hour prior to the first contraceptive dose can mitigate this adverse side effect. Continuous (or "extended" use) of OCs has become increasingly popular. This can decrease or eliminate menstruation as well as several menstruation-related complaints (e.g., dysmenorrhea, menstrual migraines and premenstrual symptoms). Despite the fact that combination OC regimens offer highly reliable contraception as well as several noncontraceptive health benefits, they are limited by the issue of daily compliance. To address this limitation, several longer-acting delivery systems were recently developed. The weekly patch, monthly vaginal ring and monthly injectable have efficacy and side effect profiles similar to those of comparable OC formulations. They offer the advantages of longer action and lower and more steady steroid levels and are free of the challenges associated with daily compliance. CONCLUSION: We need to continue to develop new and highly effective means of contraception that offer women ease of use and minimal side effects, hence leading to successful and effective use.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Women's knowledge of emergency contraception.

BACKGROUND: More widespread use of emergency contraception could help to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies. AIM: The objective of this study was to assess women's knowledge of emergency contraception. METHOD: A questionnaire was distributed to 1290 women aged between 16 and 50 years attending 14 general practice surgeries in London over a two-week period in 1990. RESULTS: The response rate was 70%. Over three quarters of the women had heard of emergency contraception; these were mainly women who used contraception, who had higher educational qualifications or who were not Muslim. Women who were the most likely to need and to use emergency contraception--those using barrier methods--had no more accurate knowledge than women using any other method of contraception. Only 53% of barrier method users knew emergency contraception could be used as a backup when other methods failed. Only one fifth of women had heard about this method from their general practitioner or any other health professional, while half had obtained their information from the media. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that including information on emergency contraception in consultations with users of barrier methods of contraception is a small step which general practitioners and practice nurses could take to increase the use of emergency contraception.

Adolescent↗

A survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to emergency contraception among health workers in Manisa, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: to determine knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to emergency contraception among health-care providers (general practitioners, nurses and midwives). DESIGN: a cross-sectional design using face-to-face interview methods plus questionnaire in the work setting. Researchers were able to maintain privacy by using priority strategies. SETTING: 18 primary health-care units in Manisa, western Turkey. SAMPLE: 182 health-care providers (general practitioners [n = 72]; nurses and midwives [n = 110] were invited to participate in the study, but 26 of them declined. PARTICIPANTS: 156 health-care providers. As 16 participants had not heard of emergency contraception, 140 health-care providers (general practitioners [n = 51] and nurses and midwives [n = 89]) were included. FINDINGS: of the health-care providers, almost one in 10 was unfamiliar with the term 'emergency contraception'. Only a few health-care providers knew how to use the intra-uterine contraceptive device (IUCD) for emergency contraception and the doses of emergency contraceptive pills. Some health-care providers included emergency contraception in routine consultations, but many did not support the use of emergency contraception in Turkey. Many of the providers thought that young people should not know about emergency contraception. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: knowledge among health-care providers about emergency contraception is inadequate. All health-care providers should know about emergency contraception and include it in routine contraceptive consultations. Thus, continuing education information programmes are required. Further research into the knowledge, practices and attitudes of health-care providers is needed to understand the underlying reasons for the hesitant attitudes among health professionals.

Adult↗

Combination contraceptives: effects on weight.

BACKGROUND: Weight gain is often considered a side effect of combination hormonal contraceptives, and many women and clinicians believe that an association exists. Concern about weight gain can limit the use of this highly effective method of contraception by deterring the initiation of its use and causing early discontinuation among users. However, a causal relationship between combination contraceptives and weight gain has not been established. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the review was to evaluate the potential association between combination contraceptive use and changes in weight. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the computerized databases MEDLINE, POPLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, and LILACS for studies of combination contraceptives. We also wrote to known investigators and manufacturers to request information about other published or unpublished trials not discovered in our search. SELECTION CRITERIA: All English-language, randomized controlled trials were eligible if they had at least three treatment cycles and compared a combination contraceptive to a placebo or to a combination contraceptive that differed in drug, dosage, regimen, and/or study length. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: All titles and abstracts located in the literature searches were assessed. Data were entered and analyzed with RevMan, and a second author verified the data entered. Depending on the data available, the weighted mean difference using a fixed effects model with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated for the mean change in weight between baseline and post-treatment measurements or the Peto odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals was calculated using the proportion of women who gained or lost more than a specified amount of weight. MAIN RESULTS: The three placebo-controlled, randomized trials did not find evidence supporting a causal association between combination oral contraceptives or a combination skin patch and weight gain. Most comparisons of different combination contraceptives showed no substantial difference in weight. In addition, discontinuation of combination contraceptives because of weight gain did not differ between groups where this was studied. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Available evidence was insufficient to determine the effect of combination contraceptives on weight, but no large effect was evident.

Body Weight↗

Combination contraceptives: effects on weight.

BACKGROUND: Weight gain is often attributed as a side effect of combination hormonal contraceptive, and many women and clinicians believe that an association exists. Concern about weight gain can limit the use of this highly effective method of contraception by deterring the initiation of its use and causing early discontinuation among users. Nevertheless, a causal relationship between combination contraceptives and weight gain has not been established. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the review was to evaluate the association between combination contraceptive use and changes in weight. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the computerized databases MEDLINE, Popline, CENTRAL, EMBASE, and LILACS for studies of combination contraceptives. We also wrote to known investigators and manufacturers to request information about other published or unpublished trials not discovered in our search. SELECTION CRITERIA: All English-language, randomized controlled trials at least three treatment cycles in duration that compared a combination contraceptive to a placebo or with a combination contraceptive that differed in drug, dosage, regimen, and/or study length were eligible. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: All titles and abstracts located in the literature searches were assessed. Data were entered and analyzed with RevMan 4.1, and a second reviewer verified the data entered. Depending on the data available, the weighted mean difference using a fixed effects model with 95% confidence intervals was calculated for the mean change in weight between baseline and post-treatment measurements or the Peto odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals was calculated using the proportion of women who gained or lost more than a specified amount of weight. MAIN RESULTS: The three placebo-controlled, randomized trials did not find evidence supporting a causal association between combination oral contraceptives or a combination skin patch and weight gain. Most comparisons of different combination contraceptives showed no substantial difference in weight. In addition, discontinuation of combination contraceptives because of weight gain did not differ between groups where this was studied. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Available evidence is insufficient to determine the effect of combination contraceptives on weight, but no large effect is evident.

Body Weight↗

Availability of emergency contraception: a survey of hospital emergency department staff.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: I investigate accessibility of emergency contraception pills at hospital emergency departments and survey staff at Catholic and non-Catholic hospitals across the United States. More specifically, I sought to report the likelihood that a woman calling a hospital and seeking emergency contraception could access the medication; (2) if emergency contraception is not provided, whether hospital staff would provide a referral to another facility; and (3) the outcome of the referral process. METHODS: Using a "mystery client" approach, I telephoned staff at all 597 Catholic hospitals in the United States and at 17% of non-Catholic hospitals (n=615). I used this interviewing method to reflect the experience of a laywoman calling to inquire about the availability of emergency contraception. RESULTS: I found that staff at 42% of non-Catholic hospitals and 55% of Catholic hospitals said that they do not dispense emergency contraception, even in cases of sexual assault. Overall, more respondents at Catholic hospitals (23%) reported that they provide emergency contraception only to victims of sexual assault compared with staff at non-Catholic hospitals (17%). Among staff who said that their hospital does not provide emergency contraception under any circumstances, only about half gave callers a valid referral, and most referrals were ineffective. CONCLUSION: To improve women's access to emergency contraception, hospitals can (1) use collaborative drug-therapy agreements to enable hospital pharmacies to dispense emergency contraception without a prescription, (2) develop and communicate written policies that support provision of emergency contraception, and (3) encourage health care providers who observe religious or ethical guidelines to provide effective referrals for women seeking emergency contraception.

Catholicism↗

Contraceptive use by diabetic and obese women.

PURPOSE: Women with chronic medical conditions are at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, yet contraceptive use by these women has not been well described. The purpose of this study was to describe contraceptive use by diabetic and overweight/obese women compared with women without these conditions. METHODS: Using cross-sectional data from the 11 states participating in the optional Family Planning Module of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 2000, we analyzed contraceptive use among 7,943 sexually active women of reproductive age (18-44) who were not trying to conceive. Using logistic regression techniques, we modeled the effect of diabetes and overweight/obesity on contraceptive nonuse, controlling for age, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, income, and health insurance coverage. MAIN FINDINGS: Contraceptive nonuse was reported by 1,500 (18.9%) of the total sample, 31 (25.8%) diabetic women, 371 (20.0%) overweight women, and 385 (23.4%) obese women. In the multivariable model, obesity was significantly associated with contraceptive nonuse (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-1.55), but there were no significant differences in contraceptive nonuse for diabetic women (adjusted OR 1.23, 95% CI 0.80-1.87) or overweight women (adjusted OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.99-1.31). Older, Black, Hispanic, married, less educated, and women without health insurance were more likely to report contraceptive nonuse. CONCLUSION: Among women with need for contraception, obese women were more likely to report contraceptive nonuse than normal weight women. Because women with chronic conditions like obesity are at higher risk of pregnancy-related complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes, proper contraceptive use and unintended pregnancy avoidance is a priority.

Adolescent↗

Contraceptive failure--results from a study conducted among women with accepted and unaccepted pregnancies in Denmark.

Most studies focusing on contraceptive failure in relation to pregnancy have focused on contraceptive failure among women having induced abortions, thereby neglecting those women who, despite contraceptive failure, accept the pregnancy and intend to carry the fetus to term. To get a more complete picture of the problem of contraceptive failure, this study focuses on contraceptive failure among women with diverse pregnancy outcomes. In all, 3520 pregnant women attending Odense University Hospital were included: 373 had induced abortions, 435 had spontaneous abortions, 97 had ectopic pregnancies, and 2614 received antenatal care. The variables studied comprise age, partner relationship, number of births, occupational and economical situation, and contraceptive use.Contraceptive failure, defined as contraceptive use (condom, diaphragm, IUD, oral contraception, or another modern method) at the intercourse where conception most likely occurred, were reported by 315 women, 52% of these women had induced abortions, 10% had spontaneous abortions, 3% had ectopic pregnancies, and 36% received antenatal care. Women aged 15-24 years were more likely to have experienced contraceptive failure in relation to use of condom and oral contraception than women aged 25-34 years. In addition, contraceptive failure was found to be associated with being single, a student, and having given birth twice or more previously. Regarding pregnancy acceptance, being 25-34 years of age was positively associated, whereas being single and a student was negatively associated with pregnancy acceptance.

Abortion, Induced↗

Hormonal contraception during lactation. systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Contraception choices may be limited for lactating women due to concerns about hormonal effects on quality and quantity of milk, passage of hormones to the infant and infant growth. We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials to determine the effect of hormonal contraception on lactation. We sought all randomized controlled trials, reported in any language, that included any form of hormonal contraception compared with another form of hormonal contraception, nonhormonal contraception or placebo during lactation. Seven reports from five randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. Most of the five trials did not specify their method used to generate a random sequence, method of allocation concealment, blinding of treatments or use of an intention-to-treat analysis. Additionally, high loss-to-follow-up rates invalidated at least two trials. The findings from two trials comparing oral contraceptives to placebo during lactation were conflicting. Another trial found no inhibitory effects on lactation from progestin-only contraceptives. Finally, the World Health Organization trial found a statistically significant decline in breast milk volume in women using combined oral contraceptives compared to women using progestin-only pills. However, infant growth for the two groups did not differ. The limited evidence from randomized controlled trials on the effect of hormonal contraceptives during lactation is of poor quality and insufficient to establish an effect of hormonal contraception, if any, on milk quality and quantity. At least one properly conducted randomized controlled trial of adequate size is urgently needed to make recommendations regarding hormonal contraceptive use for lactating women.

Contraceptives, Oral, Combined↗

Assessment of compliance with a weekly contraceptive patch (Ortho Evra/Evra) among North American women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine compliance with the contraceptive patch (Ortho Evra/Evra) overall and by age among women in North America and to compare rates of perfect use with those of an established oral contraceptive. DESIGN: Data were pooled for three contraceptive studies in which women participated for up to 13 cycles; the subset of centers in North America was used in this analysis. SETTING: 76 North American centers. PATIENT(S): Healthy women 18-45 years of age. INTERVENTION(S): In all studies, the patch regimen was three consecutive 7-day patches (21 days) followed by 1 patch-free week per cycle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Perfect use for the patch or oral contraceptive, defined as 21 consecutive days of drug-taking followed by a 7-day drug-free period; for contraceptive patch users, no patch could be worn for more than 7 days. Oral contraceptives were used according to package labeling. RESULTS: For all contraceptive patch users in North America (n = 1,785), perfect use was consistent across age groups. The percentage of cycles with perfect use of the patch ranged within age groups from 88.1% to 91.0%. In the comparative study conducted only in North America, perfect use was also consistent across age groups for the patch (n = 812), but rates of perfect use for the oral contraceptive (n = 605) differed significantly by age. CONCLUSION(S): Age did not affect compliance with the patch among all North American women studied. In a comparative study of women at North American centers, compliance with the weekly contraceptive patch was significantly better than with an established oral contraceptive. The contraceptive patch is uniformly easy to use across all ages.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Determinants of spacing contraceptive use among couples in Mumbai: a male perspective.

This study aimed to determine the factors influencing the use of spacing contraceptive methods in India, particularly from men's perspective. Data were obtained through a semi-structured interview schedule from 2,687 married men aged between 18 and 40 years from central Mumbai City, India, during 1999. Chi-squared tests and binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine the relationship between various variables and the likelihood of a couple using spacing contraceptive methods. Of the 2,687 couples, 1,395 (51.9%) were using one or other method of spacing contraceptives and 1,292 (48.1%) were not using any method at the time of survey. Male participation in contraceptive use was 23% (condom and withdrawal). The results indicate that the use of spacing contraceptive methods was significantly higher among those couples where the men desired one or two children (OR=4.3), had knowledge of five or more contraceptive methods (OR=1.9) and discussed with their wives obtaining family planning information (OR=3.2), spacing (OR=2.7) and permanent (OR=2) contraceptive methods. Age, income, desired number of children, knowledge of a greater number of contraceptive methods, inter-spouse communication regarding obtaining family planning information, spacing and permanent methods were found to be strong predictors of the use of spacing contraceptive methods. The study underlines the importance of intervention programmes aimed at promoting a small family norm, increasing the number of contraceptive choices available and encouraging inter-spouse communication. Hence, policymakers and programme managers should encourage interventions in this direction, targeting couples to enhance the use of spacing contraceptive methods.

Adolescent↗