Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health | |
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Contraceptive Use Among U.S. Women |
| TABLE 1. Percentage distribution of women obtaining abortions in 2000, by contraceptive method used in the month of conception, and of women at risk of unintended pregnancy in 1995, by contraceptive method used | ||
| Method | Women having abortions, 2000 | Women at risk of unintended pregnancy, 1995† |
| Any method | 53.7 | 92.5 |
| Long-acting | 1.1 | 40.5 |
| Sterilization | 0.1 | 35.8 |
| IUD | 0.1 | 0.7 |
| Implant/injectable | 0.9 | 4.0 |
| Pill | 13.6 | 24.9 |
| Male condom | 27.6 | 18.9 |
| Withdrawal | 7.3 | 2.8 |
| Periodic abstinence | 2.2 | 2.1 |
| Other‡ | 1.9 | 3.3 |
| No method | 46.3 | 7.5 |
| Never used | 8.1 | 0.1 |
| Previously used | 38.2§ | 7.4 |
| Total | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Unweighted N | 10,683 | 7,725 |
| Weighted N (in 000s) | 1,313 | 41,796 |
| †Based on special tabulations from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth. Includes women using a contraceptive method in the survey month and fertile women using no method who had intercourse in the previous three months and were not pregnant, seeking pregnancy or postpartum and whose partner was not sterile. ‡Female condom, diaphragm, foam, sponge, suppository or any other method. §Includes women who used only emergency contraceptive pills to prevent the current pregnancy. Source: Weighted number of women having abortions from reference 5. | ||
| TABLE 2. Percentage distribution of women obtaining abortions, by contraceptive use in the month of conception, and odds ratios from logistic regression analysis predicting the likelihood of contraceptive nonuse--all according to selected characteristics | |||||||
| Characteristic | N | Not using | Using | Total | Odds ratio | ||
| Total | Never used | Previously used | |||||
| All | 10,683 | 46.3 | 8.1 | 38.2 | 53.7 | 100.0 | na |
| Age | |||||||
| <18 | 756 | 48.9* | 18.5*** | 30.4** | 51.1 | 100.0 | 0.81 |
| 18-19 | 1,291 | 50.4** | 11.9*** | 38.6 | 49.6 | 100.0 | 1.07 |
| 20-24 | 3,570 | 46.7* | 7.2 | 39.5 | 53.3 | 100.0 | 1.05 |
| 25-29 | 2,449 | 45.2 | 6.1 | 39.0 | 54.8 | 100.0 | 1.01 |
| >=30 (ref) | 2,617 | 44.1 | 6.5 | 37.5 | 55.9 | 100.0 | 1.00 |
| Union status | |||||||
| Married (ref) | 1,806 | 43.6 | 8.3 | 35.2 | 56.4 | 100.0 | 1.00 |
| Cohabiting† | 2,726 | 46.6 | 6.2* | 40.4** | 53.4 | 100.0 | 1.05 |
| Previously married‡ | 1,168 | 47.6 | 5.5** | 42.1*** | 52.4 | 100.0 | 1.20* |
| Never-married | 4,983 | 46.8* | 9.8 | 37.1 | 53.2 | 100.0 | 1.02 |
| Poverty status§ | |||||||
| <100% | 2,876 | 52.3*** | 11.2*** | 41.1*** | 47.7 | 100.0 | 1.14 |
| 100-199% | 3,321 | 47.2*** | 8.5*** | 38.7** | 52.8 | 100.0 | 1.09 |
| 200-299% | 1,908 | 45.2** | 7.4*** | 37.8* | 54.8 | 100.0 | 1.11 |
| >=300% (ref) | 2,578 | 39.6 | 5.0 | 34.6 | 60.4 | 100.0 | 1.00 |
| Race/ethnicity | |||||||
| White (ref) | 4,355 | 38.7 | 4.3 | 34.3 | 61.3 | 100.0 | 1.00 |
| Black | 3,353 | 51.9*** | 8.0*** | 43.9*** | 48.1 | 100.0 | 1.65*** |
| Hispanic | 2,213 | 51.5*** | 13.1*** | 38.4* | 48.5 | 100.0 | 1.45*** |
| Other | 762 | 50.4*** | 16.6*** | 33.8 | 49.6 | 100.0 | 1.66*** |
| Education | |||||||
| <H.S. | 2,105 | 54.2*** | 16.3*** | 37.9** | 45.8 | 100.0 | 1.92*** |
| H.S. graduate | 3,336 | 51.6*** | 8.6*** | 42.9*** | 48.4 | 100.0 | 1.66*** |
| Some college | 3,862 | 41.0* | 4.5 | 36.4** | 59.0 | 100.0 | 1.12 |
| College graduate (ref) | 1,380 | 37.0 | 4.9 | 32.1 | 63.0 | 100.0 | 1.00 |
| Fertility intentions | |||||||
| Intend no (more) children (ref) | 2,765 | 45.6 | 6.3 | 39.3 | 54.4 | 100.0 | 1.00 |
| Intend (more) children | 5,502 | 46.6 | 9.0*** | 37.5 | 53.4 | 100.0 | 1.06 |
| Do not know | 2,416 | 46.5 | 8.3* | 38.2 | 53.5 | 100.0 | 1.02 |
| *p<.05. **p<.01. ***p<.001. †Based on single women only. ‡Includes separated women. §Percentage of federal poverty level. Notes: Ns are unweighted. na=not applicable. ref=reference category for both t-tests and the logistic regression analysis. | |||||||
| TABLE 3. Percentage of women obtaining abortions who had not been using a contraceptive method in the month of conception, by reported reasons for nonuse | |
| Reason | % (N=4,957) |
| Perceived low risk | 33.1 |
| Didn't think I would get pregnant at the time | 28.3 |
| Thought I or my partner was sterile | 5.8 |
| Concerns about contraceptive methods | 32.3 |
| Problems with methods in the past | 20.2 |
| Afraid of side effects from methods | 13.3 |
| Thought methods would make sex less fun | 3.1 |
| Thought methods would be difficult to use | 1.1 |
| Thought methods would be too messy | 0.6 |
| Unexpected/unwanted sex | 26.5 |
| Didn't expect to have sex at the time | 25.6 |
| Was forced to have sex | 1.3 |
| Ambivalence about contraception | 21.5 |
| Never got around to getting a method | 14.6 |
| Never thought about using a method | 6.7 |
| Didn't use or stopped using a method | 2.6 |
| Problems accessing contraception | 12.0 |
| Financial† | 7.9 |
| Didn't know where to get a method | 2.1 |
| Ran out/didn't get method/didn't get refill | 2.5 |
| Partner preferences | 10.4 |
| Partner didn't want to use a method | 7.1 |
| Partner didn't want me to use a method | 2.4 |
| Partner wanted me to get pregnant | 2.9 |
| Ambivalence about pregnancy | 4.7 |
| Thought I might want to get pregnant | 4.0 |
| Didn't care if I got pregnant | 1.2 |
| Parents | 2.4 |
| Afraid my parents would find out I was having sex | 2.4 |
| †For example, methods too expensive, insurance ran out, no money. Notes: Percentages may add to more than subtotals because women could indicate more than one reason for nonuse. Women who indicated "other," unspecified reasons for contraceptive nonuse (2% of all nonusers) are not shown but are included in the denominator. | |
| TABLE 4. Percentage of women obtaining abortions who had not been using a contraceptive method in the month of conception, by selected characteristics, according to reported reasons for nonuse | ||||||||
| Characteristic | Perceived low risk | Method concersn | Unexpected/unwanted sex | Ambivalence about contraception | Access problems | Partner Preferences | Ambivalence about pregnacy | Parents |
| All | 33.1 | 32.3 | 26.5 | 21.5 | 12.0 | 10.4 | 4.7 | 2.4 |
| Age | ||||||||
| <18 | 38.9 | 26.0 | 44.0*** | 27.9*** | 12.6 | 7.2** | 5.1 | 15.5*** |
| 18-19 | 37.5 | 37.2** | 28.3 | 26.5*** | 13.3 | 13.0 | 4.8 | 5.9*** |
| 20-24 | 30.7* | 32.4 | 25.8 | 25.9*** | 12.5 | 9.6 | 3.5*** | 0.9 |
| 25-29 | 30.0* | 34.8** | 21.1* | 16.5 | 12.3 | 10.2 | 3.7** | 0.2 |
| >=30 (ref) | 35.2 | 29.3 | 26.1 | 15.3 | 10.1 | 11.3 | 7.1 | 0.6 |
| Union status | ||||||||
| Married (ref) | 29.2 | 30.6 | 16.5 | 17.9 | 11.6 | 12.2 | 8.4 | 0.0 |
| Cohabiting† | 31.7 | 36.0* | 15.8 | 21.2 | 14.5 | 12.1 | 5.5* | 0.7** |
| Previously married‡ | 35.9* | 32.6 | 39.8*** | 13.4* | 10.6 | 9.2 | 6.3 | 0.7* |
| Never-married | 34.5* | 30.9 | 32.5*** | 24.9*** | 11.1 | 9.2* | 2.6*** | 4.6*** |
| Poverty status§ | ||||||||
| <100% | 33.6 | 34.1 | 27.7 | 21.9 | 14.2*** | 11.9* | 4.2* | 2.6 |
| 100-199% | 32.0 | 32.9 | 26.7 | 22.7 | 13.8*** | 10.7 | 4.6* | 2.8 |
| 200-299% | 31.8 | 30.6 | 26.5 | 20.3 | 10.8** | 8.7 | 3.8** | 2.0 |
| >=300% (ref) | 35.0 | 30.6 | 24.5 | 20.4 | 7.1 | 9.1 | 6.3 | 1.9 |
| Race/ethnicity | ||||||||
| White (ref) | 33.9 | 30.6 | 27.6 | 21.5 | 12.9 | 11.2 | 5.3 | 2.0 |
| Black | 31.7 | 33.0 | 25.4 | 18.8 | 11.4 | 8.2** | 4.2 | 1.6 |
| Hispanic | 32.9 | 34.5 | 28.5 | 22.4 | 12.6 | 13.0 | 3.9 | 4.5*** |
| Other | 36.3 | 31.0 | 21.6 | 32.0*** | 8.9** | 10.2 | 6.9 | 2.0 |
| Prior method | ||||||||
| Injectable | 28.4*** | 36.7*** | 28.5 | 20.0 | 18.5*** | 8.7* | 2.7** | 0.2** |
| Pill | 28.4*** | 34.5*** | 20.5*** | 20.2 | 15.9*** | 7.9*** | 4.3 | 0.5* |
| Condom (ref) | 40.6 | 25.3 | 31.3 | 20.1 | 5.1 | 12.6 | 5.6 | 1.2 |
| Withdrawal | 43.3 | 35.8** | 23.5* | 19.5 | 5.1 | 18.8** | 6.1 | 2.0 |
| None | 32.2** | 34.1** | 31.3 | 29.3*** | 12.0*** | 9.5 | 5.6 | 10.1*** |
| *p<.05. **p<.01. ***p<.001. †Based on single women only. ‡Includes separated women. §Percentage of federal poverty level. Note: ref=reference category. | ||||||||
| TABLE 5. Percentage distribution of women obtaining abortions, by contraceptive use and method used in the month of conception, according to selected characteristics | ||||||
| Characteristic | Using | Not using | Total | |||
| Any method | Pill | Male condom | Other | |||
| All | 53.7 | 13.6 | 27.6 | 12.5 | 46.3 | 100.0 |
| Age | ||||||
| <18 | 51.1 | 8.8* | 35.3*** | 7.1*** | 48.9 | 100.0 |
| 18-19 | 49.6 | 12.1 | 28.2 | 9.4*** | 50.4 | 100.0 |
| 20-24 | 53.3 | 15.4*** | 27.5 | 10.3*** | 46.7 | 100.0 |
| 25-29 | 54.8 | 15.0** | 26.5 | 13.3*** | 45.2 | 100.0 |
| >=30 (ref) | 55.9 | 12.0 | 26.1 | 17.9 | 44.1 | 100.0 |
| Union status | ||||||
| Married (ref) | 56.4 | 13.3 | 25.6 | 17.5 | 43.6 | 100.0 |
| Cohabiting† | 53.4 | 16.9** | 24.0 | 12.5*** | 46.6 | 100.0 |
| Previously married‡ | 52.4 | 12.3 | 26.8 | 13.4** | 47.6 | 100.0 |
| Never-married | 53.2 | 12.2 | 30.4** | 10.5*** | 46.8 | 100.0 |
| Poverty status§ | ||||||
| <100% | 47.7 | 12.7*** | 25.1** | 9.9*** | 52.3 | 100.0 |
| 100-199% | 52.8 | 12.8*** | 27.7 | 12.3** | 47.2 | 100.0 |
| 200-299% | 54.8 | 13.2* | 28.7 | 12.9* | 45.2 | 100.0 |
| >=300% (ref) | 60.4 | 15.8 | 29.3 | 15.4 | 39.6 | 100.0 |
| Race/ethnicity | ||||||
| White (ref) | 61.3 | 16.7 | 30.1 | 14.5 | 38.7 | 100.0 |
| Black | 48.1 | 11.4*** | 26.9* | 9.8*** | 51.9 | 100.0 |
| Hispanic | 48.5 | 12.4*** | 23.3*** | 12.9 | 51.5 | 100.0 |
| Other | 49.6 | 9.0*** | 27.7 | 12.9 | 50.4 | 100.0 |
| Education | ||||||
| <H.S. | 45.8 | 10.2*** | 26.2 | 9.4*** | 54.2 | 100.0 |
| H.S. graduate | 48.4 | 12.8 | 25.2** | 10.5*** | 51.6 | 100.0 |
| Some college | 59.0 | 15.8 | 29.4 | 13.8*** | 41.0 | 100.0 |
| College graduate (ref) | 63.0 | 14.7 | 29.9 | 18.5 | 37.0 | 100.0 |
| Fertility intentions | ||||||
| Intend no (more) children (ref) | 54.4 | 12.9 | 27.2 | 14.3 | 45.6 | 100.0 |
| Intend (more) children | 53.4 | 13.5 | 28.3 | 11.5** | 46.6 | 100.0 |
| Do not know | 53.5 | 14.6 | 26.1 | 12.8 | 46.5 | 100.0 |
| *p<.05. **p<.01. ***p<.001. †Based on single women only. ‡Includes separated women. §Percentage of federal poverty level. Note: ref=reference category. | ||||||
| TABLE 6. Percentages of pill and condom users obtaining abortions, by perceived reasons for pregnancy | |
| Reason | % |
| PILL USERS | (N=1,458) |
| Perfect use/method failed | 12.7 |
| Inconsistent use | 75.9 |
| Forgot to take pills | 45.1 |
| Away from home and didn't have pills | 15.9 |
| Ran out of supplies | 10.3 |
| Sick | 7.7 |
| Didn't think I would have sex again | 2.1 |
| Didn't feel like taking pills | 1.6 |
| Partner didn't want me to take | 0.3 |
| Thought I might want to get pregnant | 0.2 |
| Other reason | 3.6 |
| Other† | 14.9 |
| CONDOM USERS | (N=2,945) |
| Perfect use/method failed | 13.5 |
| Inconsistent use | 49.3 |
| Didn't think I would get pregnant | 20.4 |
| Didn't have it with me | 14.3 |
| Not expecting to have sex | 12.8 |
| Forgot | 7.1 |
| Didn't feel like using | 5.6 |
| Partner didn't feel like using | 3.5 |
| Partner was supposed to bring | 1.0 |
| Partner wanted me to get pregnant | 1.0 |
| I was forced to have sex | 0.5 |
| Thought I might want to get pregnant | 0.5 |
| Didn't care if I got pregnant | 0.3 |
| Other reason | 1.8 |
| Condom broke/slipped | 41.6 |
| Other‡ | 3.2 |
| †Included use with other drugs or antibiotics, absorption problems (vomiting or diarrhea), change of pill or dose, and not finishing first pack. ‡Included incorrect use and use of lambskin condoms and expired condoms. Note: Users could indicate more than one reason for imperfect use. | |
| TABLE 7. Odds ratios from logistic regression analyses indicating the likelihood of inconsistent pill and condom use, and condom breakage or slippage, by selected characteristics of women obtaining abortions | |||
| Characteristic | Inconsistent pill use | Inconsistent condom use | Condom breakage or slippage |
| Age | |||
| <18 | 0.37 | 0.34** | 0.47* |
| 18-19 | 0.66 | 1.02 | 1.06 |
| 20-24 | 0.76 | 0.88 | 0.89 |
| 25-29 | 0.66 | 1.11 | 1.15 |
| >=30 (ref) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Union status | |||
| Married (ref) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Cohabiting† | 1.29 | 1.05 | 1.53* |
| Previously married‡ | 0.92 | 1.22 | 2.07*** |
| Never-married | 1.22 | 1.06 | 1.39* |
| Poverty status§ | |||
| <100% | 1.50 | 1.50* | 1.33 |
| 100-199% | 1.35 | 1.29 | 1.25 |
| 200-299% | 1.52 | 1.11 | 1.30 |
| >=300% (ref) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Race/ethnicity | |||
| White (ref) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Black | 2.14** | 2.06*** | 2.11*** |
| Hispanic | 2.12** | 1.18 | 1.12 |
| Other | 0.99 | 1.19 | 0.63 |
| Education | |||
| <H.S. | 2.10* | 1.77 | 2.12* |
| H.S. graduate | 1.46 | 1.09 | 1.12 |
| Some college | 1.23 | 0.97 | 1.14 |
| College graduate (ref) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Fertility intentions | |||
| Intend no (more) children (ref) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Intend (more) children | 1.16 | 2.26*** | 2.03*** |
| Do not know | 1.28 | 1.21 | 1.30 |
| Months used†† | 0.99* | 1.00 | 1.01 |
| *p<.05. **p<.01. ***p<.001. †Based on single women only. ‡Includes separated women. §Percentage of federal poverty level. ††Number of months of method use was treated as a continuous variable. Notes: Imperfect users are compared with perfect users in the logistic regression analyses. ref=reference category. | |||
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© copyright 2002, The Alan Guttmacher Institute. |