birth control
[Demographic characteristics, wish and intent to procreate, and the use of contraception in a group of women in Mexico City]

[Article in Spanish]

Casanueva E, Arroyo P.

PIP: 156 fertile, sexually active women aged 17-47 from the Northwest zone of Mexico City were interviewed during 1980 to explore the relationship between several demographic variables, their intention to have a child within 2 years, and birth control practice. The average age of the respondents was 28, the average duration of union was 7 years, and the average number of living children was 2. 85 women stated they wanted no more children, and the maximum number desired by any respondent was 6. 41 women stated they intended to conceive a child within 2 years. 28 used no contraception, 76 used an IUD or hormonal method, and the remainder used other methods including rhythm, withdrawal, spermicides, and condoms. A significant inverse relationship was found between the woman's age, number of living children, and duration of marriage, and the desire to have children. Women desiring 1 or more children were under 36 years old, in unions for 4 or fewer years, and had 2 or fewer living children. 29 women stated they wanted a child but did not intend to conceive within 2 years. No significant relationship was found between the intention to have a child within 2 years and birth control practice. Women with at least 1 child and married 2 or more years were however more likely to use birth control. No significant difference was found between women employing efficient contraceptive methods (IUDs and hormonal methods) and those using other methods.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6867509&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Contraception choices of female university students.

Ayvazian A.

PIP: A questionnaire was distributed to 88 consecutive unselected attendees of the Contraceptive Health Education Clinic (CHEC) at the student health service of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in an effort to ascertain the following: methods of birth control young women choose; the psychosocial factor affecting their decisions; the times when they have switched birth control methods; and the relationship between age, race, marital status, and contraceptive method chosen. 78 women returned the questionnaire. The study sample ranged in age from 17-28 years. Although the majority of the sample (82%) was white, the percentage of nonwhites reflected a distribution similar to the university population as a whole. Of the 78 women, 74% had attended the voluntary CHEC discussion group before their clinic visit. Almost 1/2 (47%) of the women chose oral contraceptives (OCs); the 2nd most popular choice was the diaphragm (37%); and the remaining 16% chose the IUD, multiple methods, or did not respond to that question. 76% indicated that they were able to use their 1st contraceptive choice. 64% of the women had used some method of birth control prior to this clinic visit. Having no physical risks or medical side effects and having the best chance for preventing pregnancy were rated as most important by the women in the sample. 67% of the younger women chose OCs, while 66% of the older women chose the diaphragm. The women choosing OCs and the IUD valued efficiency and spontaneity, whereas those choosing the diaphragm valued the absence of risks and side effects. Age surfaced as a more reliable predictor of contraceptive choice than experience with other methods.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6913613&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Relationship between women's attitudes and choice of birth control.

Hunter KI, Linn MW, Harris R.

PIP: Women who had tubal ligations were compared with fertile women whose husbands had undergone vasectomies and with women who were in relationships where both husband and wife remained fertile in order to examine differences among the 3 groups in terms of preoperation characteristics and postoperative attitudes and adjustments. 108 mothers between the ages of 35 and 45 years were studied. The women were white Protestants and generally of middle to lower class according to Hollingshead's Index. Extensive demographic information was obtained including presurgical intervention data relating to childbearing history. Postsurgical data included social adjustment, attitudes toward birth control scale, and attitudes toward sex, family, parent, abortion, and birth control. The 3 groups were compared by analysis of variance and covariance (for social class) to determine differences in background, attitudes, and behaviors. Of the 108 mothers, 23% had undergone tubal ligation, 15% had husbands who had chosen vasectomy, and 62% had no surgical intervention. There were no differences among the 3 groups on background variables or self-perception of health. Women in the tubal ligation group were from the lowest social class, and they also reported a desire for more children than either of the 2 remaining groups. The tubal ligation group was significantly more negative in their attitudes on both the Semantic Differential and Thurstone's Attitude Toward Birth Control Scale. Controlling for social class did not change the level of significance for these findings.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7302057&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
The use of disease modifying antirheumatic drugs in women with rheumatoid arthritis of childbearing age: a survey of practice patterns and pregnancy outcomes.

Chakravarty EF, Sanchez-Yamamoto D, Bush TM.

Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the practices of rheumatologists when prescribing the disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) methotrexate (MTX), leflunomide (LF), etanercept (ET), and infliximab (IN) to women of childbearing age with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the pregnancy outcomes of patients who become pregnant while taking these medications. METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to 600 members of the American College of Rheumatology inquiring about their perception of fetal risk, their recommendations regarding the use of birth control in women of childbearing age taking DMARD, and the pregnancy outcomes of women with DMARD exposure. RESULTS: One hundred seventy-five rheumatologists (29%) returned completed surveys. Respondents were more likely to agree that pregnancy is contraindicated in women taking MTX (95%) or LF (92.7%) than for women taking ET (38.6%) or IN (46.5%). Accordingly, most required birth control for women taking MTX (95.7%) and LF (97.3%), and fewer for women taking ET (75.4%) or IN (73.4%). A total of 65 pregnancies exposed to these DMARD were reported (MTX 38, LF 10, ET 14, IN 2, MTX and ET 1). Only 3 congenital malformations, all in the MTX group, were reported among the 52 pregnancies with known outcomes. CONCLUSION: Rheumatologists agree that there is a risk of teratogenicity with MTX and LF and usually require the use of reliable methods of birth control in women taking these medications. There is no consensus about ET and IN; however, physicians still tend to discuss reliable birth control methods with their female patients. We have confirmed there is a risk of congenital malformations with in utero exposure to MTX. No malformations were reported in infants exposed to LF, ET, or IN, but the number of reported pregnancy outcomes was small.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12563675&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Miscommunication between healthcare providers and patients may result in unplanned pregnancies small star, filled.

Isaacs JN, Creinin MD.

Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Our objective was to examine the impact of prior healthcare provider counseling on previous use of contraception and knowledge of emergency contraception in women seeking surgical abortion. We performed a retrospective analysis of 342 patient charts from women seeking an office abortion in a private practice setting from January 1999 to June 2001. Data extracted included demographic information, primary method of contraception over the preceding few months, compliance with that method, contraceptive history, knowledge of emergency contraception and postabortion contraception. Patients were primarily white (69%) and unmarried (63%) and had private insurance that covered abortion services (72%). Only 19% of women were using a birth control method with no recognized potential failure. Twenty-two percent of women were using their birth control method correctly but experienced an event that put them at risk for pregnancy, 32% were using their birth control method incorrectly and 27% were using no birth control method at all. Miscommunication between patients and their healthcare provider(s) negatively affected use of a primary contraceptive method in 14% of patients. Of the 77% of women who did not know about emergency contraception, nearly two thirds had an identifiable event for which emergency contraception could have been used. Healthcare providers may contribute to the occurrence of unintended pregnancy if they provide poor medical advice or miscommunicate with patients.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14636942&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Declining fertility among North American Hutterites: the use of birth control within a Dariusleut colony.

White KJ.

Department of Sociology, University of Washington, 202 Savery, Box 353340, Seattle, WA 98195-3340, USA. k8 u.washington.edu

Historically, population researchers considered the Hutterites the champions of high fertility, since they most closely approximated the human fertility potential. Yet contemporary researchers have found evidence of a decline in fertility and a shift from natural to controlled fertility behavior among the Hutterite population. Various reasons for these recent changes have been suggested, including the use of birth control. Using interview data from a Dariusleut colony, this is the first paper to document the presence and prevalence of birth control among the North American Hutterites. All interviewed women recognized the use of birth control and reported that female sterilization was the most commonly used method. I address how the various forms of birth control and the reasons for its use relate to the Hutterite ideology.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=14652910&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Birth control and low-income Mexican-American women: the impact of three values.

Ortiz S, Casas JM.

PIP: This study examines how 3 particular sociocultural values affect Mexican-American women's attitude, knowledge, and use of birth control. Researchers interviewed 99 low-income married Mexican-American women, 48 of whom had a low level of acculturation and 51 of whom had a high level, focusing on the values of motherhood, male dominance, and sexual expression. While the low acculturation group showed a significant linear relationship between attitudes towards birth control and the 3 values, the high acculturation group failed to exhibit a similar relationship. The study also found that no significant relationship exists between knowledge of birth control and the aforementioned values. The sociocultural values, however, do explain a 30% variability in attitudes towards birth control among the women with low acculturation, as well as a 22% variability in birth control use. Although significant, the results do not fully account for the variability. The study suggests several possible explanations for the unaccounted variance: considering the complexity of the values involved, the instruments involved may have failed to fully uncover their effects; because they were normed on Anglo-Americans, the instruments may not have sensitive enough of Mexican-American attitudes; and finally, the study may have overlooked other important values. Nonetheless, the study points out definite differences in attitudes between high and low acculturation groups. Considering that Hispanic women -- particularly Mexican-American women -- experience a very high birthrate (double that of non-Hispanics), examining sociocultural values may give insights into better family planning methods for this group.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12283504&dopt=Abstract birth control