TY - JOUR
T1 - Contraceptive use among adolescent mothers at 6 months postpartum
AU - Berenson, Abbey B.
AU - Wiemann, Constance M.
N1 - Funding Information:
From the Division of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Deyart-merit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas. Presented at the 44th Annual Chical College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 27-May 1, 1996. This research was supported by grants awarded to CMWfrom the National Institutes ofHealth fR03-DA084041 and the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health.
Copyright:
Copyright 2007 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 1997/6
Y1 - 1997/6
N2 - Objective: To assess patterns and predictors of reliable and unreliable contraceptive use among adolescent mothers in the first 6 months following delivery. Methods: We surveyed 462 women, 18 years of age or younger, at delivery and again at 6 months postpartum. Contraceptive behaviors were evaluated among the 359 adolescents who stated they were sexually active and not trying to conceive. Results: Method discontinuation and switching were common during the 6-month interval. Only 100 of 189 adolescents (53%) initially prescribed oral contraceptives were still using this method 6 months after delivery; ten of these 100 stated that they had missed at least three pills in the last cycle. Twelve (10%) of the 115 adolescents who initiated depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate failed to obtain a second injection within 4 months of the initial injection or use an alternative method. In contrast, nine of the ten women who received levonorgestrel implants were still using this method 6 months after delivery. Overall, 76% of the sample reported using reliable contraception at last intercourse. Multivariate analyses identified seven factors as predictive of reliable contraceptive use: school enrollment, not having failed a grade in school, adequate support, belief that pregnancy is likely without birth control, attendance at postpartum visit, prior abortion, and the adolescent's desire to wait at least 2 years before having another child. Conclusion: Interventions designed to reduce rapid repeat pregnancy during the adolescent years should address emotional, financial, and educational, as well as contraceptive, needs.
AB - Objective: To assess patterns and predictors of reliable and unreliable contraceptive use among adolescent mothers in the first 6 months following delivery. Methods: We surveyed 462 women, 18 years of age or younger, at delivery and again at 6 months postpartum. Contraceptive behaviors were evaluated among the 359 adolescents who stated they were sexually active and not trying to conceive. Results: Method discontinuation and switching were common during the 6-month interval. Only 100 of 189 adolescents (53%) initially prescribed oral contraceptives were still using this method 6 months after delivery; ten of these 100 stated that they had missed at least three pills in the last cycle. Twelve (10%) of the 115 adolescents who initiated depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate failed to obtain a second injection within 4 months of the initial injection or use an alternative method. In contrast, nine of the ten women who received levonorgestrel implants were still using this method 6 months after delivery. Overall, 76% of the sample reported using reliable contraception at last intercourse. Multivariate analyses identified seven factors as predictive of reliable contraceptive use: school enrollment, not having failed a grade in school, adequate support, belief that pregnancy is likely without birth control, attendance at postpartum visit, prior abortion, and the adolescent's desire to wait at least 2 years before having another child. Conclusion: Interventions designed to reduce rapid repeat pregnancy during the adolescent years should address emotional, financial, and educational, as well as contraceptive, needs.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0029-7844(97)00123-3
DO - 10.1016/S0029-7844(97)00123-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 9170481
AN - SCOPUS:0030955444
SN - 0029-7844
VL - 89
SP - 999
EP - 1005
JO - Obstetrics and gynecology
JF - Obstetrics and gynecology
IS - 6
ER -