birth control
Birth control use by teenagers. One and two years postabortion.

Abrams M.

A prospective study was undertaken of the contraceptive behavior of adolescent women following a first-trimester abortion. Each women had an individual counseling session, including birth-control counseling. Effective birth control was used by 77% of the 182 respondents one year postabortion. Two years after abortion, 79% of those who remained in the study group continued to use reliable birth control methods. The repeat abortion rate for all respondents was 7% in the first year and 11% in the second year. These results suggest that teenagers who obtain abortions do not rely on the procedure as a method of contraception. Instead, they are more likely to be using reliable methods of birth control postabortion than they were before the unplanned pregnancy.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3988578&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
A curriculum for adolescent mothers: an evaluation.

Smith PB, Weinman M, Johnson TC, Wait RB, Mumford DM.

One hundred and four indigent, pregnant adolescents were selected to evaluate the effect of a prenatal education curriculum presented in a maternity clinic. Adolescent mothers were visited 6 months postpartum to test which short-term, intermediate, and long-term curriculum content items were accurately and effectively retained. Success of the curriculum was evaluated by a trained social worker in the girls' home to ascertain how these content areas were reflected in the adolescent mother's behavior. Short-term matter-child health-care compliance content showed a high degree of success. Intermediate child-rearing content techniques often did not lead to appropriate behavior six months after the baby was born. Long-term educational and vocational performance content did not demonstrate effective long-term retention. Technical aspects of child-rearing, even when deliberately presented by health educators, did not appear to be easily applied in the extended family setting, and long-term goals seemed inconsistent with the adolescent's behavior.

PIP: The study reported on was designed to evaluate the ability of the adolescent mother to benefit from instruction programs offered during her pregnancy and the retention of the birth control knowledge (short-term content), child-rearing knowledge (intermediate content), and educational and vocational activities (long-term content) after the baby is born. 104 indigent, pregnant adolescents between 13-17 years were selected to evaluate the effect of a prenatal education curriculum presented in a maternity clinic. Beginning in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy, adolescents were enrolled in an 8-week series of 3-hour classes taught by a multidisciplinary team. Each adolescent received comprehensive maternal and child health compliance information, instruction in child-rearing techniques and educational and vocational guidance. The adolescent mothers were visited 6 months postpartum to test which short-term, intermediate and long-term curriculum content items were accurately and effectively retained. Success of the curriculum was evaluated by a trained social worker in the girl's home to ascertain how these content areas were reflected in the adolescent mother's behavior. The results suggest that adolescents were able to effectively use short-term information such as birth control and health information, as evidenced by their high compliance with well-baby care and birth control use. Intermediate information such as correct child development information was less successful, and often did not lead to appropriate behavior 6 months after the baby was born. Long-term educational and vocational performance content did not demonstrate effective long-term retention. Technical aspects of child-rearing, even when deliberately presented by health educators, did not appear to be easily applied in the extended family setting, and long-term goals seemed inconsistent with the adolescent's behavior.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3988582&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
The use of contraception among abortion applicants.

Krishnamoni D, Jain SC.

PIP: Applicants for therapeutic abortion at an outpatient unit of a general hospital in the capital city of Newfoundland were interviewed, and the contraception related findings are presented. The total number of therapeutic abortions performed in 1977 in the province was 493, of which 416 (84%) were performed in Grace General Hospital, where the study was conducted. The 416 women ranged in age from 14-45 years. 72% were under age 24. 41% had achieved only elementary school education. 65% came from the capital city and from the surrounding areas, within a radius of 100 miles. The rest of the women had traveled up to 700 miles or more to procure the service. Of the total of 416, 10, or 2%, claimed that they had no knowledge that there are ways to prevent conception. The 2nd group of 170 women (41%) knew that contraceptive methods did exist but for various reasons had never used any method at any time in their lives. The 3rd group of 236 (57%) consisted of those who had used some form of contraception. This group was further divided: 181 women (44%) had used birth control methods within the last 6 months or earlier but not at the time of conception; the rest had been consistent contraceptors but the method had failed. Of the 10 women who claimed they had absolutely no knowledge of contraception, 6 were below age 17, 7 were unmarried, and 5 were Roman Catholics. Approximately 1/3 of the 170 women who knew of contraceptive methods but did not use them were under age 16 and would have required parental consent to receive contraceptive counseling and/or prescriptions. For approximately 2/3 of this group, birth control methods were available and accessible since they were above the age of 17 and could have sought contraceptive counseling. The reasons this group of women gave for not using contraceptives fell under 3 main headings. 1/3 attributed it to ignorance and/or carelessness. Another 1/3 consisted of those who had not planned on having sexual intercourse. The rest consisted mainly of young women whose parental attitude had deterred them from seeking help with birth control. The 181 women who had used some form of contraception within the last 6 months or earlier but not at the time of conception were mainly over age 17. More than half of them were unmarried. Less than 1/3 had elementary school education, and half had high school or more education. The complaint of side effects caused by the method was the most common reason for non-use among this group. In most instances the method complained about was oral contraception. More than half of the consistent users were married and almost 3/4 had high school or better education. The contraceptive that appears to have had the highest failure rate among the consistent users was the condom. Almost 1/3 of the women claimed that they had depended on the condom. The oral contraceptive, the IUD, and irreversible methods such as tubal ligation and vasectomy had a failure rate of 2% each.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=4005776&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Organization and implementation of China's national sampling survey on fertility and birth control.

China. State Family Planning Commission. Planning and Statistical Department.

PIP: The Planning and Statistical Department of the State Family Planning Commission of China in July 1988 implemented a fertility and birth control survey in China on 2.16 million married women ages 15-57 using stratified, systematic, clustered, and non-proportionate sampling. 3 questionnaires were used: household, married women, and sample unit covering basic status, family planning status, general characteristics of pregnancy and contraception, population flow, deaths since 1981, and socioeconomic status. The authors suggest several international cooperative research projects including: design of fertility and contraception survey; Chinese population growth; Chinese population dynamics; dynamics of marital and family status; fertility; contraception and birth control; mortality; migration; status of the nationalities of China; population development; regional fertility status; and others. Data from the survey will be available in June 1989.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12282210&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Effects of elevated female sex steroids on ethanol and acetaldehyde metabolism in humans.

Jeavons CM, Zeiner AR.

Two groups (n = 20 each for pill and no pill groups) of young female social drinkers were tested with an acute ethanol dose (0.52 g/kg) as a 20% solution in water. Ethanol pharmacokinetics and acetaldehyde were repeatedly assayed from breath by a gas chromatograph. Cardiovascular indices were concurrently recorded. Groups did not differ on ethanol pharmacokinetics. However, the group on birth control pills reached a significantly higher acetaldehyde concentration than did the group of normally cycling females not on birth control pills (3.26 ng/ml vs. 1.45 ng/ml). Further, the pill (P) group showed significantly greater vasodilation 20 min postdrink as indexed by ear lobe plethysmography than did the no pill (NP) group (P = 160.3% vs. NP = 113.9%). Results are consistent with the interpretation that female sex steroids modulate aldehyde dehydrogenase function. Practical implications are that females with elevated steroids (either pregnant or on birth control pills) may be at greater risk for toxic effects of ethanol consumption.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6091490&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
Can effective birth control be legislated? An analysis of factors that predict birth control utilization.

Murphy JG, Symington BE, Jacobson S.

PIP: 106 low income sexually active women ages 15-30 years were interviewed at a hospital clinic to determine whether the psychosocial characteristics associated with effective use of contraception are susceptible to policy shifts (e.g., changes in the availability of welfare benefits or abortion services). 60% of the women reported always using birth control and 40% reported ineffective use of birth control. Effective use of birth control was positively related to years of education, satisfaction with present birth control method, and marital status. The relative risks associated with education were 50% greater than thos associated with satisfaction and marital status. None of the 4 variables identified as indicators of the sensitivity of contraceptive practice to changes in public assistance or abortion policies (public assistance status, prediction regarding completion of an unplanned pregnancy, assessment of the consequences of motherhood, and abortion history) was predictive of birth control use. These results strongly suggest that the psychosocial characteristics distinguishing effective from ineffective contraceptors are not those that are directly suscpetible to regulatory, legislative, or judicial restrictions. Rather, those concerned with family planning should support outreach programs that attract poor students to school. In addition, family planning programs should aim to work with clients to improve satisfaction with the methods of contraception chosen.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6470130&dopt=Abstract birth control



birth control
[Main objectives of the WHO Special Program on Human Reproduction]

[Article in Russian]

Vikhliaeva EM, Eristavi GV, Kurbatov MB.

PIP: The WHO Special Program on Human reproduction was established in 1972 to coordinate international research on birth control, family planning, development of effective methods of contraception, and treatments for disorders of the human reproductive system. The Program's main objectives are: implementation of family planning programs at primary health care facilities, evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of existing birth control methods, development of new birth control methods, and development of new methods of sterility treatment. In order to attain these goals, the Program forth 3 major tasks for international research: 1) psychosociological aspects of family planning, 2) birth control methods, and 3) studies on sterility. Since most of the participating nations belong to the 3rd World, the Program is focused on human reproduction in developing countries. The USSR plays an important role in the WHO Special Program on Human reproduction. A WHO Paticipating Center has been established at the All-Union Center for Maternal and Child Care in Moscow. Soviet research concentrates on 3 major areas: diagnosis and treatment of female sterility, endocrinological aspects of contraception, and birth control prostaglandins.

Online source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=6476260&dopt=Abstract birth control