Correlates of use of long-acting reversible methods of contraception among adolescent and young adult women

Abstract

Background: Most pregnancies among adolescent and young adult women are unintended, and adolescent birth rates have risen. Use of long-acting reversible contraception may be an effective strategy to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy.

Study design: We conducted a secondary data analysis of nationally representative, cross-sectional data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. Our sample included 1722 sexually active women aged 15-24 years. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify correlates of ever-use of depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) or the intrauterine device (IUD).

Results: One-quarter of our sample had ever used DMPA, and less than 2% had ever used the IUD. In multivariable analysis, increasing parity was associated with ever-use of DMPA (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.55-2.77) and ever-use of the IUD (OR 4.57, 95% CI 1.60-13.03), but age and measures of socioeconomic status were not. Having ever been married (OR 5.54, 95% CI 1.23-24.82) and current cohabitation (OR 4.89, 95% CI 1.10-21.71) were associated with ever-use of the IUD. A history of an adolescent pregnancy was associated with ever-use of DMPA (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.19-2.70) but not of the IUD.

Conclusions: While similarities exist between the correlates of use of DMPA and the IUD, we discovered important differences, some of which may reflect provider biases regarding IUD provision.