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. 2022 Mar:31:100697.
doi: 10.1016/j.srhc.2022.100697. Epub 2022 Feb 5.

Factors related to delays in obtaining contraception among pregnancy-capable adults in New York state during the COVID-19 pandemic: The CAP study

Meredith Manze  1 , Diana Romero  2 , Glen Johnson  3 , Sarah Pickering  2
Affiliations

Factors related to delays in obtaining contraception among pregnancy-capable adults in New York state during the COVID-19 pandemic: The CAP study

Meredith Manze et al. Sex Reprod Healthc. 2022 Mar.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate factors associated with delays to obtaining contraception during the COVID-19 pandemic among pregnancy-capable adults in New York State.

Study design: We administered a cross-sectional survey in June-July 2020 to female/transgender male New York State residents aged 18-44 years (n = 1,525). This analysis focused on respondents who were not pregnant and sought contraception (n = 953). We conducted bivariate and multinomial logistic regression analyses to assess sociodemographic, social, and health characteristics, by the outcome of delays to obtaining birth control (delayed due to COVID-19, delayed due to other reasons, no delay). We also analyzed a sub-sample who reported COVID-19 as a reason for delays (n = 317) and report the frequencies of type of contraceptive methods/procedures delayed and availability of telemedicine visits.

Results: Half of respondents had no contraceptive delays, 39% reported delays due to COVID-19, and 11% reported delays due to reasons other than COVID-19. In adjusted analyses, those who missed a rent/mortgage payment during the pandemic (aOR: 2.23; CI: 1.55, 3.22), participated in a supplemental government program in 2019 (aOR: 1.88; CI: 1.36, 2.60), and themselves/household member had COVID-19 (aOR: 1.48; CI: 1.04, 2.12) were more likely to report delays to contraception due to COVID-19 (versus no delays). In the sub-sample, 63% reported available virtual contraceptive visits, 28% unavailable, and 9% not sure. The most frequently (42%) reported delays were new prescriptions for the pill, patch, or ring.

Conclusions: Reducing financial barriers that help individuals maintain their housing and living necessities, and promoting telemedicine visits, may help increase access to contraception.

Keywords: Access; Barriers; Birth control; COVID-19; Contraception; Telemedicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Type of Contraceptive Method Delayed* by Virtual Visit Availability (among those who reported COVID-19 as reason for delay; N = 317). *response categories not mutually exclusive.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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