Unmet demand for short-acting hormonal and long-acting reversible contraception among community college students in Texas. Issue 5 (4th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hopkins, Kristine; Hubert, Celia; Coleman-Minahan, Kate; Stevenson, Amanda Jean; White, Kari; Grossman, Daniel; Potter, Joseph E.
• Is Part Of: Journal of American college health. Volume 66:Issue 5(2018)
• Page Start: 360
• Page End: 368
• Publication Date: 2018-07-04
• Subjects: Barriers to contraception -- contraceptive preferences -- contraceptive use -- community college students; College students -- Health and hygiene -- United States -- Periodicals; College students -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; College students -- Mental health -- Periodicals; Universities and colleges -- Health promotion services -- Periodicals; 362.10883781980973
• DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2018.1431901
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0744-8481

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective : To identify preferences for and use of short-acting hormonal (e.g., oral contraceptives, injectable contraception) or long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) among community college students in Texas.Participants : Female community college students, ages 18 to 24, at risk of pregnancy, sampled in Fall 2014 or Spring 2015 ( N = 966).Methods : We assessed characteristics associated with preference for and use of short-acting hormonal or LARC methods (i.e., more-effective contraception).Results : 47% preferred short-acting hormonal methods and 21% preferred LARC, compared to 21% and 9%, respectively, who used these methods. A total of 63% of condom and withdrawal users and 78% of nonusers preferred a more effective method. Many noted cost and insurance barriers as reasons for not using their preferred more-effective method.Conclusions : Many young women in this sample who relied on less-effective methods preferred to use more-effective contraception. Reducing barriers could lead to higher uptake in this population at high risk of unintended pregnancy.