Use of 'dual protection' and other combinations of contraceptive methods in Australia

Abstract

Objective: To examine the demographic profiles of contraceptive users in Australia, paying particular attention to the use of condoms with other methods.

Method: Data from a specific section on contraceptive use in the 2005 Wave 5 of the nationwide, longitudinal Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) were analysed. The section was restricted to 2,221 women aged 18-44; women were excluded if they were pregnant or subfecund, or if they or their partner had been sterilised.

Results: Two-thirds of respondents were using contraception, including more than 15% who indicated use of more than one method. The contraceptive pill (39%) was the most widely used method, followed by the condom (28%). Women using sex-related methods were more likely to be using more than one method. More than one-quarter of pill users (28%) were using condoms as well. The combination of pill and condom was significantly associated with age, being a student, and country of birth. Less than 3% of women reported using rhythm methods and of these two-thirds were using another method.

Conclusions: Dual protection provided by the combination of the condom with the pill or other methods has become an important factor in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies, but continuing education on dual protection and better access to treatment is still necessary for both men and women, particularly among at-risk groups.