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Objective: To examine factors associated with discontinuation of the oral contraceptive pill (OCP), patch, and ring.Methods: We included 1,452 female participants from the Contraceptive CHOICE Project who selected the OCP, patch, or ring and completed 12 months of follow-up for this analysis. We defined discontinuation as stopping the contraceptive method for longer than 1 month during a follow-up survey. Participants who stopped their method as a result of pregnancy or to attempt pregnancy or who were lost to follow-up were censored. We examined demographic, behavioral, and method-related factors in the Cox proportional hazard models.Results: Patch users had a higher 1-year discontinuation rate (58%) than OCP (47%; P=.03) and ring users (49%; P=.02). Women were more likely to discontinue the OCP, patch, or ring if they were black (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.44), no longer married (adjusted HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.27-2.65), or received public assistance (adjusted HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.08-1.57). Women who reported difficulty obtaining the method were more than twice as likely to discontinue (adjusted HR 2.43, 95% CI 1.81-3.27). Women who were certain they would continue despite side effects (adjusted HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.43-0.77) were less likely to discontinue.Conclusion: Despite selecting their method and obtaining it at no cost, almost half of OCP and ring users and a majority of patch users discontinued their method by 12 months. Experiencing difficulty obtaining the method contributes to high rates of discontinuation.Level Of Evidence: II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient-initiated notification is a commonly used practice for notifying sex partners of possible exposure to a sexually transmitted infection (STI); however, 46% to 75% of partners are never treated. The Contraceptive CHOICE Project (CHOICE) is a longitudinal cohort study of women that provides no-cost contraception, STI testing, treatment to participants, and free partner treatment. Our objective was to evaluate characteristics of women who tested positive for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or trichomoniasis, and their association with successful partner treatment.Methods: We analyzed baseline survey and STI testing, notification, and treatment data from the first 5087 participants enrolled in CHOICE. We considered "treated partners" to be men who received antibiotic treatment at the study clinic or by a prescription through the study. Independent predictors of successful partner treatment were identified using univariate analysis and multivariable analysis using Poisson regression with robust error variance.Results: Forty-four percent of male partners were successfully treated. Women whose partners were less likely to obtain treatment were black (adjusted Relative Risk (RR adj) RR adj = 0.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.5-0.8) or reported some concern about future STI with the partner (RR adj = 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4, 0.8). Women whose partners were more likely to receive treatment were living with their partner (RR adj = 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1-1.8) or reported recent inconsistent condom use (RR adj = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-2.1).Conclusions: The male partner treatment rate resulting from female patient-initiated partner notification in our study was low. Our findings highlight the need to develop novel notification interventions that yield higher partner treatment rates and consider patient-specific factors, such as race and relationship status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether home-based screening for sexually transmitted infections results in a higher sexually transmitted infection screening rate compared with clinic-based screening in participants using long-acting reversible contraception.Methods: We performed a randomized clinical trial of women using long-acting reversible contraception methods in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project (n=558). Participants were randomly assigned to home-based testing (swabs mailed to the participant's home) or clinic-based testing. Self-collected vaginal swabs were tested for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae using strand displacement analysis. We estimated the relative risk (RR) of screening by group using Poisson regression with robust error variance.Results: The randomization groups were similar at baseline, except for marital status; the clinic group had more never-married women (62.0% compared with 51.6%), and the home group had more divorced women (12.1% compared with 5.6%, P=.007). Women in the home group were more likely to self-report screening compared with women in the clinic group in the multivariable analysis (56.3% compared with 32.9%; RR 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-2.0). When analyzed by tests received or documented in medical records, similar results were obtained (56.3% compared with 25.0%; RR 2.2; 95% CI 1.7-2.7). Women who completed screening had higher levels of education and were more likely to receive public assistance compared with those who did not complete screening.Conclusion: Long-acting reversible contraception users randomized to sexually transmitted infection screening at home were more likely to complete screening than those randomized to traditional clinic-based screening. Home-based screening may be useful in women using long-acting reversible contraceptive methods who may not present for regular screening.Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01184157. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unintended pregnancy disproportionately affects younger, minority, and low-income women. The purpose of this analysis is to describe our recruitment strategies and to determine if targeted efforts to reach women at greatest risk for unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection (STI) were successful. Methods: The Contraceptive CHOICE Project is a prospective cohort study providing reversible contraception at no cost to 10,000 women aged 14-45 years in the St. Louis area in order to evaluate method satisfaction and continuation and to reduce unintended pregnancies in the region. We describe four strategies for effective outreach and recruitment of high-risk women, including forming strong community partnerships. We analyze the evolution of baseline demographic and behavioral characteristics over the three waves of enrollment of the first 2,500 participants in order to assess whether our outreach efforts were successful. Results: Overall, >60% of participants were aged ≤25 years. There was a significant increase in the percentage of minority participants enrolled throughout the first 2,500 subjects ( p < 0.001). The number of women who reported trouble paying for basic necessities significantly increased over the three waves ( p = 0.025). Throughout the three waves of enrollment, there was a significant increase in the number of women who tested positive for an STI at baseline ( p < 0.001). Conclusions: A multiple method approach with collaboration of key community partners led to successful recruitment of hard to reach populations at high risk for unintended pregnancy and STI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated whether there were racial/ethnic differences among young men who have sex with men (MSM) in their use of, perceived importance of, receipt of, and satisfaction with HIV prevention services received at health care providers (HCP) and HIV test providers (HTP) that explain racial disparities in HIV prevalence. Young men, aged 23 to 29 years, were interviewed and tested for HIV at randomly sampled MSM-identified venues in six U.S. cities from 1998 through 2000. Analyses were restricted to five U.S. cities that enrolled 50 or more black or Hispanic MSM. Among the 2,424 MSM enrolled, 1,522 (63%) reported using a HCP, and 1,268 (52%) reported having had an HIV test in the year prior to our interview. No racial/ethnic differences were found in using a HCP or testing for HIV. Compared with white MSM, black and Hispanic MSM were more likely to believe that HIV prevention services are important [respectively, AOR, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.0, 1.97 to 4.51 and AOR, 95% CI: 2.7, 1.89 to 3.79], and were more likely to receive prevention services at their HCP (AOR, 95% CI: 2.5, 1.72 to 3.71 and AOR, 95% CI: 1.7, 1.18 to 2.41) and as likely to receive counseling services at their HTP. Blacks were more likely to be satisfied with the prevention services received at their HCP (AOR, 95% CI: 1.7, 1.14 to 2.65). Compared to white MSM, black and Hispanic MSM had equal or greater use of, perceived importance of, receipt of, and satisfaction with HIV prevention services. Differential experience with HIV prevention services does not explain the higher HIV prevalence among black and Hispanic MSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated hepatitis B immunization coverage and the extent of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among young men who have sex with men (MSM), a group for whom hepatitis B vaccine has been recommended since 1982. METHODS: We analyzed data from 3432 MSM, aged 15 to 22 years, randomly sampled at 194 gay-identified venues in 7 US metropolitan areas from 1994 through 1998. Participants were interviewed, counseled, and tested for serologic markers of HBV infection. RESULTS: Immunization coverage was 9% and the prevalence of markers of HBV infection was 11%. HBV infection ranged from 2% among 15-year-olds to 17% among 22-year-olds. Among participants susceptible to HBV infection, 96% used a regular source of health care or accessed the health care system for HIV or sexually transmitted disease testing. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the availability of an effective vaccine for nearly 2 decades, our findings suggest that few adolescent and young adult MSM in the United States are vaccinated against hepatitis B. Health care providers should intensify their efforts to identify and vaccinate young MSM who are susceptible to HBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a contraceptive decision aid in reducing decisional conflict among women seeking reversible contraception., Study Design: We conducted a randomized trial of a computer-based decision aid compared to a control group for women presenting for reversible contraception at two clinics affiliated with an academic medical center. The primary outcome was change in decisional conflict, measured before and after the healthcare visit using the validated Decisional Conflict Scale. We hypothesized the decision aid would reduce the decisional conflict score by 10 points on a 100-point scale (0 = no conflict, 100 = high conflict) compared to the control group. Secondary outcomes included contraceptive method chosen and satisfaction with the healthcare visit., Results: We enrolled and randomized 253 women, and 241 had complete data for our primary outcome. Overall, pre-visit decisional conflict scores were low, reflecting low levels of decisional conflict in our sample; median score 15 (range 0-80) in the decision aid and 10 (0-85) in the control group (p = 0.45). Both groups had a similar reduction in median decisional conflict after the healthcare visit: -10 (-80 to 25) and -10 (-60 to 5) in the decision aid and control groups respectively (p = 0.99). Choice of contraception (p = 0.23) and satisfaction with healthcare provider (p = 0.79) also did not differ by study group., Conclusions: Decisional conflict around contraception was low in both groups at baseline. Use of a computerized contraceptive decision aid did not reduce decisional conflict, alter method choice, or impact satisfaction compared to the control group among women choosing reversible contraception., Implications: Use of a computerized contraceptive decision aid did not reduce decisional conflict or alter method choice compared to the control group among women choosing reversible contraception. Future studies could focus on testing the decision aid in different clinical settings, especially where barriers to providing comprehensive contraceptive counseling exist., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Forty-five percent of births in the United States are unintended, and the costs of unintended pregnancy and birth are substantial. Clinical and policy interventions that increase access to the most effective reversible contraceptive methods (intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants) have potential to generate significant cost savings. Evidence of cost savings for these interventions is needed., Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct a cost-savings analysis of the Contraceptive CHOICE Project, which provided counseling and no-cost contraception, to demonstrate the value of investment in enhanced contraceptive care to the Missouri Medicaid program., Study Design: The Contraceptive CHOICE Project was a prospective cohort study of 9256 reproductive-age women who were enrolled between 2007 and 2011. Study follow-up was completed October 2013. This analysis includes 5061 Contraceptive CHOICE Project participants who were current Missouri Medicaid beneficiaries or were uninsured and reported household incomes <201% of the federal poverty line. We created a simulated comparison group of women who were receiving care through the Missouri Title X program and modeled the contraception and pregnancy outcomes that would have occurred in the absence of the Contraceptive CHOICE Project. Data about contraceptive use for the comparison group (N=5061) were obtained from the Missouri Title X program and adjusted based on age, race, ethnicity, and income. To make an accurate comparison that would account for the difference in the 2 populations, we used our simulation model to estimate total Contraceptive CHOICE Project costs and total comparison group costs. We reported all costs in 2013 dollars to account for inflation., Results: Among the Contraceptive CHOICE Project participants who were included, the uptake of intrauterine devices and implants was 76.1% compared with 4.8% among the comparison group. The estimated contraceptive cost for the simulated Contraceptive CHOICE Project group was $4.0 million vs $2.3 million for the comparison group. The estimated numbers of unintended pregnancies and births averted among the simulated Contraceptive CHOICE Project group compared with the comparison group were 927 and 483, respectively, which represented a savings in pregnancy and maternity care of $6.7 million. We estimated that the total cost savings for the state of Missouri attributable to the Contraceptive CHOICE Project was $5.0 million (40.7%) over the project duration., Conclusion: A program providing counseling and no-cost contraception yields substantial cost savings because of the increased uptake of highly effective contraception and consequent averted unintended pregnancy and birth., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: We sought to evaluate whether differences in rates of contraceptive discontinuation exist among black and white women receiving contraceptive counseling and no-cost contraception among users of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC; intrauterine devices or subdermal implant) and non-LARC (oral contraceptive pills, contraceptive vaginal ring, patch, or injection) methods., Materials and Methods: We analyzed data from a prospective cohort study of 7546 non-Hispanic black and white women who participated in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project. Among women who initiated their method within 12 weeks of enrollment, discontinuation was defined as any break in use longer than 1 month. Using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, we estimated discontinuation stratified by use of LARC methods., Results: There were no statistically significant differences in contraceptive discontinuation between black and white women at 12, 24, or 36 months among both LARC [12-month adjusted hazard ratio (HR adj-12M ) 1.01 (95% confidence interval or 95% CI 0.86-1.18); HR adj-24M 1.10 (95% CI 0.97-1.24); and HR adj-36M 1.10 (95% CI 0.98-1.23)] and non-LARC users [HR adj-12M 1.08 (95% CI 0.92, 1.26); HR adj-24M 1.07 (95% CI 0.94, 1.23); and HR adj-36M 1.08 (95% CI 0.95, 1.23)] adjusting for confounders. Secondary analyses found no significant differences in discontinuation of LARC and non-LARC methods among black and white women at highest risk of pregnancy or those receiving public assistance at baseline., Conclusions: At 12, 24, and 36 months there were no differences in contraceptive discontinuation of both LARC methods and non-LARC methods when comparing white and black women.

Unintended pregnancy is a public health problem with societal consequences. The Contraceptive CHOICE Project (CHOICE) demonstrated a reduction in teen pregnancy and abortion by removing barriers to effective contraception. The purpose of the study was to describe the dissemination approach used to create awareness of and promote desire to adopt the CHOICE model among selected audiences. We used a 4-stage approach and detail the work completed in the first 2 stages. We describe stakeholder involvement in the first stage and the process of undertaking core strategies in the second stage. We examine insights gained throughout the process. Through our dissemination approach, we reached an estimated 300,000 targeted individuals, not including the population reached through media. We were contacted by 141 entities for technical assistance. The completion and reporting of dissemination processes is an important component of research. There is a need to fully document and disseminate strategies that can help facilitate practice change.

Background: After initiating a new contraceptive method, the provider has little control of how or whether that method is used., Objective: We sought to compare unintended pregnancy rates by the initial chosen contraceptive method after counseling to traditional contraceptive effectiveness in the same study population., Study Design: The Contraceptive CHOICE Project provided reversible contraception to 9252 women at no cost during 2-3 years of follow-up. We performed 2 analyses of contraceptive efficacy in this prospective cohort: (1) intent-to-use (ITU), grouping participants based on their chosen method at enrollment; and (2) as-used, categorizing participant time according to the method used. In ITU analysis, switching of methods and method continuation were not considered, as we wanted to assess outcomes based on the method chosen at baseline. We used Cox proportional hazards models to compare rates of unintended pregnancy., Results: During 20,017 person-years, we identified 615 unintended pregnancies. In ITU analysis, pregnancy rates were 5.3, 5.5, 2.0, 1.7, and 1.9 per 100 person-years for women initiating oral, injectable, implantable, copper, and hormonal intrauterine contraception (IUC) at baseline, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio for injectable contraception compared to hormonal IUC was 2.4 (95% confidence interval, 1.8-3.3). Delaying initiation of IUC or implantable contraception increased unintended pregnancies by 60% (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.0). In as-used analysis, pregnancy rates were 6.7, 1.6, 0.2, 0.6, and 0.2 per 100 person-years for women using oral, injectable, implantable, copper, and hormonal IUC, respectively., Conclusion: Although highly effective in the as-used analysis, women initially choosing injectable contraception had pregnancy rates similar to oral contraception and significantly worse than IUC or implantable contraception. Despite switching and discontinuation, women choosing an IUC or implantable contraception at baseline were much less likely to have an unintended pregnancy compared to those selecting other methods., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The objective of this analysis was to estimate the 3-year continuation rates of long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods and to compare these rates to non-LARC methods., Study Design: The Contraceptive CHOICE Project (CHOICE) was a prospective cohort study that followed 9256 participants with telephone surveys at 3 and 6 months, then every 6 months for 2-3 years. We estimated 3-year continuation rates of baseline methods that were chosen at enrollment. The LARC methods include the 52-mg levonorgestrel intrauterine device; the copper intrauterine device, and the subdermal implant). These were then compared to rates to non-LARC hormonal methods (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, oral contraceptive pills, contraceptive patch, and vaginal ring). Eligibility criteria for this analysis included participants who started their baseline chosen method by the 3-month survey. Participants who discontinued their method to attempt conception were censored. We used a Cox proportional hazard model to adjust for confounding and to estimate the hazard ratio for risk of discontinuation., Results: Our analytic sample consisted of 4708 CHOICE participants who met inclusion criteria. Three-year continuation rates were 69.8% for users of the levonorgestrel intrauterine device, 69.7% for copper intrauterine device users, and 56.2% for implant users. At 3 years, continuation was 67.2% among LARC users and 31.0% among non-LARC users (P < .001). After adjustment for age, race, education, socioeconomic status, parity, and history of sexually transmitted infection, the hazard ratio for risk of discontinuation was 3-fold higher among non-LARC method users than LARC users (adjusted hazard ratio, 3.08; 95% confidence interval, 2.80-3.39)., Conclusion: Three-year continuation of the 2 intrauterine devices approached 70%. Continuation of LARC methods was significantly higher than non-LARC methods., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The objective was to compare three strategies for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae screening prior to intrauterine device (IUD) insertion., Study Design: This was a secondary analysis of the Contraceptive CHOICE Project. We measured the prevalence of C. trachomatis and/or N. gonorrhoeae at the time of IUD insertion. We then compared sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values, and likelihood ratios for three screening strategies for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae prior to IUD insertion: (a) "age-based" — age ≤25 years alone; (b) "age/partner-based" — age ≤25 and/or multiple sexual partners; and (c) "risk-based" — age ≤25, multiple sexual partners, inconsistent condom use and/or history of prior sexually transmitted infection (STI)., Results: Among 5087 IUD users, 140 (2.8%) tested positive for C. trachomatis, 16 (0.3%) tested positive for N. gonorrhoeae, and 6 (0.1%) were positive for both at the time of IUD insertion. The "risk-based" screening strategy had the highest sensitivity (99.3%) compared to "age-based" and "age/partner-based" screening (80.7% and 84.7%, respectively.) Only one (0.7%) woman with a chlamydia or gonorrhea infection would not have been screened using "risk-based" screening., Conclusion: A risk-based strategy to screen for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae prior to IUD insertion has higher sensitivity than screening based on age alone or age and multiple sexual partners., Implications: Using a risk-based screening strategy (age≤25, multiple sexual partners, inconsistent condom use and/or history of an STI) to determine who should be screened for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae prior to IUD insertion will miss very few cases of infection and obviates the need for universal screening., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Contraceptive methods have differing attributes. Women's preferences for these attributes may influence contraceptive decision making. Our objective was to identify women's contraceptive preferences among women initiating a new contraceptive method., Study Design: We conducted a cross-sectional, self-administered survey of women's contraceptive preferences at the time of enrollment into the Contraceptive CHOICE Project. Participants were asked to rank the importance of 15 contraceptive attributes on a 3-point scale (1 = not at all important, 2 = somewhat important, and 3 = very important) and then to rank the 3 attributes that were the most important when choosing a contraceptive method. The survey also contained questions about prior contraceptive experience and barriers to contraceptive use. Information about demographic and reproductive characteristics was collected through the CHOICE Project baseline survey., Results: There were 2590 women who completed the survey. Our sample was racially and socioeconomically diverse. Method attributes with the highest importance score (mean score [SD]) were effectiveness (2.97 [0.18]), safety (2.96 [0.22]), affordability (2.61 [0.61]), whether the method is long lasting (2.58 [0.61]), and whether the method is "forgettable" (2.54 [0.66]). The attributes most likely to be ranked by respondents among the top 3 attributes included effectiveness (84.2%), safety (67.8%), and side effects of the method (44.6%)., Conclusion: Multiple contraceptive attributes influence decision making and no single attribute drives most women's decisions. Tailoring communication and helping women make complex tradeoffs between attributes can better support their contraceptive decisions and may assist them in making value-consistent choices. This process could improve continuation and satisfaction., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To compare self-reported 12-month continuation of oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), patch, and ring versus continuation by pharmacy claims data., Study Design: Women in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project who chose OCPs, the patch, or the ring as their initial method were included. Continuation was assessed by periodic telephone survey and by obtaining prescription claims data. Continuation was defined as no gap of more than 30 days. Kaplan-Meier survival functions were used to estimate continuation rates and cumulative unintended pregnancy rates. Kappa statistic assessed the level of agreement between self-report and claims data., Results: We analyzed 1510 women who initiated use by 3 months and provided information on discontinuation. Of OCP users, 59% continued their method at 12 months by self-report versus 38% by pharmacy claims. Patch and ring users had self-reported/pharmacy continuation of 45%/28% and 57%/37%, respectively. Kappa coefficients and their 95% confidence intervals between the two measurements were 0.46 (0.40, 0.52), 0.54 (0.39, 0.68), and 0.54 (0.47, 0.61) for OCP, patch, and ring, respectively. Among women who self-reported continuation, unintended pregnancy rates were 0.4% in those who continued by pharmacy claims versus 4.9% in those who discontinued according to claims data., Conclusion: Contraceptive continuation rates differ by self-report versus pharmacy claims with women overestimating their continuation by self-report., Implications: This article directly compares contraception continuation rates by self-report and by pharmacy claims data. The study suggests that previously reported continuation rates from survey data overestimate specific method use., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Unintended pregnancies are a major public health problem in the United States, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) are among the most effective reversible birth control methods available. Historically, there have been concerns about IUD use and infection among young and/or high-risk women that may increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) and subsequent infertility., Methods: The Contraceptive CHOICE Project (CHOICE) was a prospective cohort study of over 9,000 women 14-45 years of age residing in the St. Louis area who were interested in initiating a new form of reversible contraception. At enrollment, participants were counseled regarding long-acting contraceptive methods with the goal of increasing awareness of all reversible methods available. Participants were also tested for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) during enrollment and were provided with contraception at no cost for 2-3 years., Results: We estimate the frequency of self-reported PID in new IUD users compared with women using other contraceptive methods. Among both new IUD users who tested positive for GC and/or CT and those who tested negative, the PID rate was 1% or below., Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that IUD use is safe for all women, including women at high risk for sexually transmitted infections.

The Contraceptive CHOICE Project (CHOICE) sought to reduce unintended pregnancies in the St. Louis Region by removing cost, education, and access barriers to highly effective contraception. CHOICE was a prospective cohort study of over 9,000 women 14-45 years of age who received tiered contraceptive counseling to increase awareness of all reversible methods available, particularly long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods. Participants were provided with contraception of their choice at no cost for 2-3 years. We studied contraceptive method choice, continuation, and population outcomes of repeat abortion and teen pregnancy. Seventy-five percent of study participants chose one of the three LARC methods (46% levonorgestrel intrauterine system, 12% copper intrauterine device, and 17% subdermal implant). LARC users reported greater continuation than non-LARC users at 12 months (87% versus 57%) and 24 months (77% versus 41%). In our cohort, LARC methods were 20 times more effective than non-LARC methods. As a result, we observed a reduction in the percent of repeat abortions from 2006 to 2010 in St. Louis compared with Kansas City and nonmetropolitan Missouri and found substantial reductions in teen pregnancy, birth, and abortion (34.0, 19.4, and 9.7 per 1000 teens, respectively) compared with national rates among sexually experienced teens (158.5, 94.0, and 41.5 per 1000, respectively). Improved access to LARC methods can result in fewer unintended pregnancies and abortions and considerable cost savings to the health care system.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Hispanic ethnicity on the continuation and satisfaction of reversible contraceptive methods., Study Design: We analyzed 12 months of data that were collected from 7913 participants in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to estimate continuation, and Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the risk of discontinuation., Results: Hispanic women were more likely to choose a long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) method compared with non-Hispanic black and non-Hispanic white women (80%, 73%, and 75%, respectively; P < .05). The 12-month continuation rates were higher for LARC methods than combined hormonal methods for all race/ethnicity (Hispanic women, 87% vs 40%; non-Hispanic black women, 85% vs 46%; non-Hispanic white women, 87% vs 56%). There was no statistical difference in discontinuation of LARC methods at 12 months. Eighty percent of LARC users reported high satisfaction levels at 12 months, regardless of race/ethnicity., Conclusion: Hispanic women in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project experienced high continuation and satisfaction for LARC methods, similar to women of other ethnicities., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Our objective was to measure the sensitivity and specificity of a six-item "pregnancy checklist" at excluding early- or luteal-phase pregnancy among women with a negative urine pregnancy test who were initiating contraception., Study Design: This was a secondary analysis of the Contraceptive CHOICE Project, a prospective cohort study of 9256 women in the St. Louis region. Women who had a negative urine pregnancy test on the day of enrollment were included in this analysis. Women with a positive urine pregnancy test or without urine pregnancy testing were excluded. We identified all luteal-phase pregnancies that occurred among women with a negative urine pregnancy test. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value (NPV) and likelihood ratios of the pregnancy checklist for excluding luteal-phase pregnancies., Results: There were 6929 women included in this analysis; 69% of these women met at least one checklist criterion to exclude pregnancy ("negative screen"). There were 36 luteal-phase pregnancies (0.5%) subsequently diagnosed among women with a negative urine pregnancy test. The sensitivity and specificity of the checklist were 77.7% and 69.1%, respectively. The NPV of the checklist was 99.8% and the positive predictive value was 1.3%., Conclusion: Among women with a negative urine pregnancy test, the pregnancy checklist can be used to safely exclude more than 99% of early pregnancies at the time of contraceptive initiation., Implications: In patients with a negative urine pregnancy test, a pregnancy checklist using six criteria based on patient history has high NPV in excluding early pregnancy. This checklist can be used to facilitate same-day initiation of contraceptive methods, including long-acting reversible contraception. Although the checklist had a high false positive rate, initiation of contraception should not be delayed in women with a "positive screen." Rather women who desire an intrauterine device or implant can be "bridged" with a shorter-acting method until pregnancy can be excluded., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The rate of teenage pregnancy in the United States is higher than in other developed nations. Teenage births result in substantial costs, including public assistance, health care costs, and income losses due to lower educational attainment and reduced earning potential., Methods: The Contraceptive CHOICE Project was a large prospective cohort study designed to promote the use of long-acting, reversible contraceptive (LARC) methods to reduce unintended pregnancy in the St. Louis region. Participants were educated about reversible contraception, with an emphasis on the benefits of LARC methods, were provided with their choice of reversible contraception at no cost, and were followed for 2 to 3 years. We analyzed pregnancy, birth, and induced-abortion rates among teenage girls and women 15 to 19 years of age in this cohort and compared them with those observed nationally among U.S. teens in the same age group., Results: Of the 1404 teenage girls and women enrolled in CHOICE, 72% chose an intrauterine device or implant (LARC methods); the remaining 28% chose another method. During the 2008-2013 period, the mean annual rates of pregnancy, birth, and abortion among CHOICE participants were 34.0, 19.4, and 9.7 per 1000 teens, respectively. In comparison, rates of pregnancy, birth, and abortion among sexually experienced U.S. teens in 2008 were 158.5, 94.0, and 41.5 per 1000, respectively., Conclusions: Teenage girls and women who were provided contraception at no cost and educated about reversible contraception and the benefits of LARC methods had rates of pregnancy, birth, and abortion that were much lower than the national rates for sexually experienced teens. (Funded by the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and others.).

Objective: To investigate whether age 14 to 19 years and nulliparity are associated with expulsion of levonorgestrel and copper intrauterine devices (IUDs)., Methods: This was a planned secondary analysis of the Contraceptive CHOICE Project. We used Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to estimate expulsion rates for the first levonorgestrel or copper IUD received during study participation. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to investigate baseline characteristics associated with expulsion., Results: A total of 5,403 females were included; 4,219 (78%) used the levonorgestrel IUD and 1,184 (22%) used the copper IUD. There were 432 initial expulsions reported. The 36-month cumulative expulsion rate was 10.2 per 100 IUD users and did not vary by IUD type (levonorgestrel IUD 10.1 compared with copper IUD 10.7, P=.99). In the bivariate analysis, multiple characteristics including age, nulliparity, immediate postabortion insertion, and heavy menses were associated with expulsion. The cumulative rate of expulsion was lower in nulliparous women compared with parous women (8.4 compared with 11.4; P<.001) and higher in females aged 14 to 19 compared with older women (18.8 compared with 9.3; P<.001). After adjusting for confounders and stratifying by IUD type, the hazard ratio of expulsion for females aged 14 to 19 years was 2.26 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.68-3.06) for the levonorgestrel IUD and 3.06 (95% CI 1.75-5.33) for the copper IUD. Compared to parous levonorgestrel IUD users, expulsion was lower for nulliparous levonorgestrel IUD users (adjusted hazard ratio 0.59, 95% CI 0.44-0.78)., Conclusion: IUD expulsions were not increased in nulliparous females. More expulsions were observed in females aged 14 to 19 compared with older women regardless of parity or IUD type., Level of Evidence: : II.

Objective: To estimate whether providing no-cost contraception is associated with the number of sexual partners and frequency of intercourse over time., Methods: This was an analysis of the Contraceptive CHOICE Project, a prospective cohort study of 9,256 adolescents and women at risk for unintended pregnancy. Participants were provided reversible contraception of their choice at no cost and were followed-up with telephone interviews at 6 and 12 months. We examined the number of male sexual partners and coital frequency reported during the previous 30 days at baseline compared with 6-month and 12-month time points., Results: From our total cohort, 7,751 (84%) women and adolescents completed both 6-month and 12-month surveys and were included in this analysis. We observed a statistically significant decrease in the fraction of women and adolescents who reported more than one sexual partner during the past 30 days from baseline to 12 months (5.2% to 3.3%; P<.01). Most participants (70-71%) reported no change in their number of sexual partners at 6 and 12 months, whereas 13% reported a decrease and 16% reported an increase (P<.01). More than 80% of participants who reported an increase in the number of partners experienced an increase from zero to one partner. Frequency of intercourse increased during the past 30 days from baseline (median, 4) to 6 and 12 months (median, 6; P<.01). However, greater coital frequency did not result in greater sexually transmitted infection incidence at 12 months., Conclusion: We found little evidence to support concerns of increased sexual risk-taking behavior subsequent to greater access to no-cost contraception.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of medical contraindications in a large group of women seeking combined hormonal contraception (CHC)., Study Design: The Contraceptive CHOICE Project is a prospective cohort study designed to promote the use of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods to reduce unintended pregnancies in the St Louis region. During baseline enrollment, participants were asked about their desired methods of contraception and medical history. Potential medical contraindications were defined as self-reported history of hypertension, myocardial infarction, cerebral vascular accidents, migraines with aura, any migraine and age 35 years or older, smoking in women older than 35 years, venous thromboembolism, or liver disease. We reviewed all research charts of women with self-reported medical contraindications to verify all conditions. Binomial 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated around percentages., Results: Between August 2007 and December 2009, 5087 women who enrolled in the CHOICE Project provided information about their medical history and 1010 women (19.9%) desired CHC at baseline. Seventy women (6.93%; 95% CI, 5.44-8.68%) were defined as having a potential medical contraindication to CHC at baseline. After chart review, only 24 of 1010 participants desiring CHC (2.38%; 95% CI, 1.53-3.52%) were found to have true medical contraindications to CHC including 17 with hypertension, 2 with migraines with aura, 2 with a history of venous thromboembolism, and 3 smokers aged 35 years or older., Conclusion: The prevalence of medical contraindications to CHC was very low in this large sample of reproductive-aged women. This low prevalence supports provision of CHC without a prescription., (Copyright © 2014 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To measure discontinuation within 6 months among users of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system, copper intrauterine device (IUD), and etonogestrel implant and identify baseline characteristics associated with early discontinuation., Methods: This was an analysis of the Contraceptive CHOICE Project, a cohort study of 9,256 participants provided with no-cost contraception and followed with telephone interviews at 3 and 6 months. We used logistic regression to investigate characteristics associated with early discontinuation of the two IUDs and implant and described reasons for discontinuation., Results: A total of 6,167 participants were eligible for this analysis. Follow-up data were available for 5,928 participants; 5,495 (93%) were using their method at 6 months and 433 (7%) had discontinued. Discontinuation rates were 7.3%, 8.0%, and 6.9% for the levonorgestrel intrauterine system, copper IUD, and implant, respectively. After adjusting for age, race, marital status, low socioeconomic status, and history of sexually transmitted infection, we found that unmarried women were slightly more likely to discontinue compared with married women (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.59 and adjusted OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.11-2.37, respectively). No other baseline characteristics, including younger age (14-19 years), were associated with early discontinuation. The most common reason given for discontinuation was cramping among IUD users and irregular or frequent bleeding among implant users., Conclusion: Rates of discontinuation of long-acting reversible contraception at 6 months is low and not increased in adolescents and young women. Intrauterine devices and the implant should be considered as first-line contraceptive options among all women to reduce unintended pregnancy., Level of Evidence: : II.

Background: Concerns about weight gain may influence contraceptive use. We compared the change in body weight over the first 12 months of use between women using the etonogestrel (ENG) implant, the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) or depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) with women using the copper intrauterine device (IUD)., Study Design: This was a substudy of the Contraceptive CHOICE Project, a prospective cohort study of 9256 women provided no-cost contraception. Women who had been using the ENG implant, LNG-IUS, DMPA or copper IUD continuously for at least 11 months were eligible for participation. We obtained body weight at enrollment and at 12 months and compared the weight change for each progestin-only method to the copper IUD., Results: We enrolled a total of 427 women: 130 ENG implant users, 130 LNG-IUS users, 67 DMPA users and 100 copper IUD users. The mean weight change (in kilograms) over 12 months was 2.1 for ENG implant users [standard deviation (SD)=6.7]; 1.0 for LNG-IUS users (SD=5.3); 2.2 for DMPA users (SD=4.9) and 0.2 for copper IUD users (SD=5.1). The range of weight change was broad across all contraceptive methods. In the unadjusted linear regression model, ENG implant and DMPA use were associated with weight gain compared to the copper IUD. However, in the adjusted model, no difference in weight gain with the ENG implant, LNG-IUS or DMPA was observed. Only Black race was associated with significant weight gain (1.3 kg, 95% confidence interval=0.2-2.4) when compared to other racial groups., Conclusions: Weight change was variable among women using progestin-only contraceptives. Black race was a significant predictor of weight gain among contraceptive users., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: We evaluated the impact of exposure to emotional, physical, or sexual abuse on contraceptive method selection and discontinuation., Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of 7170 women enrolled in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project in St. Louis, Missouri, a prospective cohort study in which 9256 women were provided their preferred method of contraception at no cost from 2007 to 2011. We defined contraceptive discontinuation as device removal or nonuse for at least 4 weeks within the first 12 months after initiation., Results: One third of women experienced some abuse in their lifetimes. Women with an abuse history were as likely as those without to select a long-acting reversible contraceptive method and more likely to choose a contraceptive injection, the patch, or the ring. When we compared women who were abused to those who were not, rates of discontinuation at 12 months were higher among women who selected long-acting reversible contraception (17% vs 14%; P = .04) and significantly higher among women who selected non-long-acting methods (56% vs 47%; P < .001). Type of abuse did not alter the association between abuse and contraceptive continuation., Conclusions: Previous experiences of abuse are associated with both contraceptive method selection and continuation.

Background: We describe the contraceptive counseling provided by the Contraceptive CHOICE Project (CHOICE) and compare contraceptive methods selected between the university research site and community partner clinics., Study Design: We developed a structured, contraceptive counseling program. All CHOICE participants enrolling at our university research site underwent the counseling, which was evidence-based and included information about all reversible contraception. Participants enrolling at partner clinics underwent "usual" counseling. We trained 54 research team members to provide contraceptive counseling; the majority had no formal health care training. We compared the contraceptive methods chosen by participants enrolling at our university research site to participants enrolling at partner clinics who did not undergo structured contraceptive counseling., Results: There were 6,530 (86%) women who enrolled into CHOICE at our university site and 1,107 (14%) women who enrolled at partner clinics. Uptake of long-acting reversible contraception was high at both the university site and partner clinics (72% and 78%, respectively, p<.0001). However, uptake of the intrauterine device was higher at the university site (58% compared to 43%, p<.0001) and uptake of the subdermal implant was higher at partner clinics (35% versus 14%, p<.0001). After adjusting for confounders, we found no difference in the uptake of long-acting reversible contraception between women counseled at the university site compared to partner clinics (adjusted relative risk=0.98, 95% confidence interval [0.94, 1.02])., Conclusion: Structured contraceptive counseling can be effectively provided in a clinical research setting by staff without prior health care experience or clinical training., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: We used universal screening to determine the prevalence rates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) in 9256 women enrolling into a contraceptive study., Methods: We offered screening using nucleic acid amplification or culture to all participants enrolling into the Contraceptive CHOICE Project. Demographic characteristics were collected through staff-administered questionnaires. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to assess the risk of sexually transmitted infection at baseline and to compare risk profiles of CT and TV., Results: Results were available for 8347 consenting women with satisfactory results; 656 (7.9%) were tested positive for 1 or more infections. Approximately one third of participants were older than 26 years, and half were identified as African American. There were 35 cases of GC for a prevalence of 0.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.3-0.6), 260 cases of CT for a prevalence of 3.1% (95% CI, 2.8-3.5), and 410 cases of TV for a prevalence of 4.9% (95% CI, 4.4-5.4). Black women were more likely to be tested positive (odds ratio, 3.95; 95% CI, 3.08-5.06) compared with white women and accounted for 81.3% of cases. T. vaginalis was more prevalent in black women (8.9%) compared with white women (0.9%). Older age was a risk factor for TV, whereas younger age was associated with CT. Of the 656 positive cases, 106 (16%) were diagnosed in women older than 25 years, falling outside traditional screening guidelines., Conclusion: We found GC, CT, and TV to be more prevalent than current national statistics, with TV being the most prevalent. Current screening recommendations would have missed 16% of infected women.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate perceived weight gain in women using contraception and determine the validity of self-reported weight gain., Study Design: We analyzed data from new contraceptive method users who self-reported a weight change at 3, 6, and 12 months after enrollment. We examined a subgroup of participants with objective weight measurements at baseline and 12 months to test the validity of self-reported weight gain., Results: Thirty-four percent of participants (1407 of 4133) perceived weight gain. Compared with copper intrauterine device users, implant users (relative risk, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-1.51) and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users (relative risk, 1.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-1.64) were more likely to report perceived weight gain. Women who perceived weight gain experienced a mean weight gain of 10.3 pounds. The sensitivity and specificity of perceived weight gain were 74.6% and 84.4%, respectively., Conclusion: In most women, perceived weight gain represents true weight gain. Implant and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users are more likely to perceive weight gain among contraception users., (Copyright © 2013 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To estimate whether women who receive an immediate postabortion etonogestrel subdermal implant have higher discontinuation rates than women who undergo an interval insertion (insertion not associated with a recent pregnancy)., Methods: This was a secondary analysis of the Contraceptive CHOICE Project. We compared 12-month continuation rates for the subdermal implant between women undergoing immediate postabortion placement and women who underwent an interval placement. Continuation rates were compared using Kaplan-Meier estimator of survival function and Cox proportional hazard models., Results: Over the study period, 141 women received the implant immediately postabortion and 935 women underwent an interval placement. The 12-month continuation rates were similar: 81.5% among women undergoing immediate postabortion placement and 82.8% among women undergoing interval placement (P=.54). In the survival analysis, women who received an immediate postabortion implant were no more likely to discontinue their method than women who had an interval placement (adjusted hazard ratio 1.04, 95% confidence interval 0.68-1.60). The most common reason given for discontinuation was frequent or irregular bleeding, which was reported by 65.4% of women discontinuing in the immediate postabortion group and 56.7% in the interval group., Conclusion: Women who undergo immediate postabortion placement of the subdermal implant have high rates of continuation that are equivalent to women undergoing interval insertion. Immediate postabortion long-acting reversible contraceptives should be available to women undergoing induced abortion to decrease the risk of repeat unplanned pregnancy., Level of Evidence: II.

Objective: To estimate the contraceptive failure rates of the etonogestrel subdermal contraceptive implant in overweight and obese women and compare failure rates with women of normal weight and women using intrauterine devices (IUDs)., Methods: The Contraceptive CHOICE Project is a large prospective cohort study designed to promote the use of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods to reduce unintended pregnancies in the St Louis region. Participants are provided reversible contraception of their choice at no cost. We collected baseline height and weight of each participant. During each survey, participants were asked about missed menses and possible pregnancies. Any participant who suspected a pregnancy was asked to come in for urine pregnancy testing. Analysis includes the first 8,445 participants enrolled in CHOICE of which 1,168 chose the implant and 4,200 chose the IUD. Student's t test, χ test, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to perform statistical analyses to estimate failure rates in overweight and obese women using the implant and IUDs., Results: Of the women choosing the implant, 28% were overweight and 35% were obese. Of the women who chose an IUD, 27% were overweight and 35% were obese. The 3-year cumulative failure rates for implant and IUD users were less than one per 100 women-years and did not vary by body mass index., Conclusion: We found no decrease in the effectiveness of the implant in overweight or obese women. The implant may be offered as a first-line contraceptive method to any woman seeking a reversible and reliable birth control method.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine women's knowledge of contraceptive effectiveness., Study Design: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of a contraceptive knowledge questionnaire that had been completed by 4144 women who were enrolled in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project before they received comprehensive contraceptive counseling and chose their method. For each contraceptive method, women were asked "what percentage would get pregnant in a year: <1%, 1-5%, 6-10%, >10%, don't know.", Results: Overall, 86% of subjects knew that the annual risk of pregnancy is >10% if no contraception is used. More than 45% of women overestimate the effectiveness of depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate, pills, the patch, the ring, and condoms. After adjustment for age, education, and contraceptive history, the data showed that women who chose the intrauterine device (adjusted relative risk, 6.9; 95% confidence interval, 5.6-8.5) or implant (adjusted relative risk, 5.9; 95% confidence interval, 4.7-7.3) were significantly more likely to identify the effectiveness of their method accurately compared with women who chose either the pill, patch, or ring., Conclusion: This cohort demonstrated significant knowledge gaps regarding contraceptive effectiveness and over-estimated the effectiveness of pills, the patch, the ring, depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate, and condoms., (Copyright © 2012 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The rate of unintended pregnancy in the United States is much higher than in other developed nations. Approximately half of unintended pregnancies are due to contraceptive failure, largely owing to inconsistent or incorrect use., Methods: We designed a large prospective cohort study to promote the use of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods as a means of reducing unintended pregnancies in our region. Participants were provided with reversible contraception of their choice at no cost. We compared the rate of failure of long-acting reversible contraception (intrauterine devices [IUDs] and implants) with other commonly prescribed contraceptive methods (oral contraceptive pills, transdermal patch, contraceptive vaginal ring, and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate [DMPA] injection) in the overall cohort and in groups stratified according to age (less than 21 years of age vs. 21 years or older)., Results: Among the 7486 participants included in this analysis, we identified 334 unintended pregnancies. The contraceptive failure rate among participants using pills, patch, or ring was 4.55 per 100 participant-years, as compared with 0.27 among participants using long-acting reversible contraception (hazard ratio after adjustment for age, educational level, and history with respect to unintended pregnancy, 21.8; 95% confidence interval, 13.7 to 34.9). Among participants who used pills, patch, or ring, those who were less than 21 years of age had a risk of unintended pregnancy that was almost twice as high as the risk among older participants. Rates of unintended pregnancy were similarly low among participants using DMPA injection and those using an IUD or implant, regardless of age., Conclusions: The effectiveness of long-acting reversible contraception is superior to that of contraceptive pills, patch, or ring and is not altered in adolescents and young women. (Funded by the Susan Thompson Buffet Foundation.).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine predictors of the completion of free annual sexually transmitted infection screening among sexually active young women of ≤ 25 years old., Study Design: We analyzed survey data from 2607 sexually active women who were enrolled in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project, a prospective cohort study. We evaluated demographic characteristics, sexual risk behaviors, relationship characteristics, and contraceptive methods. Receipt of a home- or clinic-based test kit within 56 days of the 12-month survey constituted a completed screen. A multivariable model to predict screening completion was created with the use of Poisson regression with robust error variance., Results: Fifty-seven percent of the women completed the screening. Screening completion was associated most strongly with a college education or higher (adjusted relative risk, 1.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.3) and home-based testing (adjusted relative risk, 1.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-1.5)., Conclusion: Free and home-based testing increased screening rates among young women. To meet annual testing guidelines, the availability and use of home-based testing kits should increase., (Copyright © 2012 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether oral naproxen or transdermal estradiol decreases bleeding and spotting in women who are initiating the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system., Study Design: We conducted a randomized controlled trial of naproxen, estradiol, or placebo that was administered over the first 12 weeks of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system use. Participants completed a written bleeding diary. We imputed missing values and performed an intention-to-treat analysis., Results: There were 129 women who were assigned randomly to naproxen (n = 42 women), estradiol (n = 44 women), or placebo (n = 43 women). The naproxen group was more likely to be in the lowest quartile of bleeding and spotting days compared with placebo (42.9% vs 16.3%; P = .03). In the multivariable analysis, the naproxen group had a 10% reduction in bleeding and spotting days (adjusted relative risk, 0.90; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-0.97) compared with placebo. More frequent bleeding and spotting was observed in the estradiol group (adjusted relative risk, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-1.34)., Conclusion: The administration of naproxen resulted in a reduction in bleeding and spotting days compared with placebo., (Copyright © 2012 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Women undergoing induced abortion may be more motivated to choose long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), including the intrauterine device (IUD) and implant, than women without a history of abortion. Our objective was to determine whether the contraceptive method chosen is influenced by a recent history of induced abortion and access to immediate postabortion contraception., Study Design: This was a subanalysis of the Contraceptive CHOICE Project. We compared contraception chosen by women with a recent history of abortion to women without a recent history. Participants with a recent history of abortion were divided into immediate postabortion contraception and delayed-start contraception groups., Results: Data were available for 5083 women: 3410 women without a recent abortion history, 937 women who received immediate postabortion contraception and 736 women who received delayed-start postabortion contraception. Women offered immediate postabortion contraception were more than three times as likely to choose an IUD [adjusted relative risk (RR(adj)) 3.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.67-4.85] and 50% more likely to choose the implant (RR(adj) 1.51, 95%CI 1.12-2.03) compared to women without a recent abortion. There was no difference in contraceptive method selected among women offered delayed-start postabortion contraception compared to women without a recent abortion., Conclusion: Women offered immediate postabortion contraception are more likely to choose the IUD and implant than women without a recent abortion history. Increasing access to immediate postabortion LARC is essential to preventing repeat unintended pregnancies., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The study was conducted to determine whether perceived racial, economic and gender discrimination has an impact on contraception use and choice of method., Methods: We analyzed the first 2,500 women aged 14-45 years enrolled in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project, a prospective cohort study aimed to reduce barriers to obtaining long-acting reversible contraception. Items from the "Experiences of Discrimination" (EOD) scale measured experienced race-, gender- and economic-based discrimination., Results: Overall, 57% of women reported a history of discrimination. Thirty-three percent reported gender- or race-based discrimination, and 24% reported discrimination attributed to socioeconomic status (SES). Prior to study enrollment, women reporting discrimination were more likely to report any contraception use (61% vs. 52%, p<.001) but were more likely to use less effective methods (e.g., barrier methods, natural family planning or withdrawal; 41% vs. 32%, p<.001). In adjusted analyses, gender-, race- or SES-based discrimination were associated with increased current use of less effective methods [adjusted risk ratio (aRR) 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06-1.41; aRR 1.25, CI 1.08-1.45; aRR 1.23, CI 1.06-1.43, respectively]. After enrollment, 66% of women with a history of experience of discrimination chose a long-acting reversible contraceptive method (intrauterine device or implantable) and 35% chose a depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate or contraceptive pill, patch or ring., Conclusions: Discrimination negatively impacts a woman's use of contraception. However, after financial and structural barriers to contraceptive use were eliminated, women with EOD overwhelmingly selected effective methods of contraception. Future interventions to improve access and utilization of contraception should focus on eliminating barriers and targeting interventions that encompass race-, gender- and economic-based discrimination., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Among men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States, the influence of HIV/AIDS complacency and beliefs about the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on HIV-infection risk is unknown., Methods: We analyzed data from a 1998-2000 cross-sectional 6-city survey of 1575 MSM aged 23 to 29 years who had never tested for HIV or had last tested HIV-negative to assess these plausible influences overall and by race/ethnicity., Findings: Measured as strong endorsement for reduced HIV/AIDS concern due to HAART, HIV/AIDS complacency was associated with reporting ≥10 male sex partners (odds ratio [OR], 2.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.12-4.07), unprotected anal intercourse with an HIV-positive or HIV-unknown-status male partner (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.51-2.81), and testing HIV-positive (adjusted OR [AOR], 2.35; 95% CI, 1.38-3.98). Strong endorsement of the belief that HAART mitigates HIV/AIDS severity was more prevalent among black (21.8%) and Hispanic (21.3%) than white (9.6%) MSM (P < 0.001), and was more strongly associated with testing HIV-positive among black (AOR, 4.65; 95% CI, 1.97-10.99) and Hispanic (AOR, 4.12; 95% CI, 1.58-10.70) than white (AOR, 1.62; 95% CI, 0.64-4.11) MSM., Conclusions: Young MSM who are complacent about HIV/AIDS because of HAART may be more likely to engage in risk behavior and acquire HIV. Programs that target HIV/AIDS complacency as a means to reduce HIV incidence among young MSM should consider that both the prevalence of strong HAART-efficacy beliefs and the effects of these beliefs on HIV-infection risk might differ considerably by race/ethnicity.

Despite considerable research, the causal relationship remains unclear between HIV/AIDS complacency, measured as reduced HIV/AIDS concern because of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and HIV risk behavior. Understanding the directionality and underpinnings of this relationship is critical for programs that target HIV/AIDS complacency as a means to reduce HIV incidence among men who have sex with men (MSM). This report uses structural equation modeling to evaluate a theory-based, HIV/AIDS complacency model on 1,593 MSM who participated in a venue-based, cross-sectional survey in six U.S. cities, 1998-2000. Demonstrating adequate fit and stability across geographic samples, the model explained 15.0% of the variance in HIV-acquisition behavior among young MSM. Analyses that evaluated alternative models and models stratified by perceived risk for HIV infection suggest that HIV/AIDS complacency increases acquisition behavior by mediating the effects of two underlying HAART-efficacy beliefs. New research is needed to assess model effects on current acquisition risk behavior, and thus help inform prevention programs designed to reduce HIV/AIDS complacency and HIV incidence among young MSM.

Background: We compared contraceptive prevalence reported in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project (CHOICE) at time of enrollment with estimates from representative surveys, the 2006-2008 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) and 2006 Missouri Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)., Study Design: We calculated survey weights for CHOICE participants and compared selected demographic characteristics and prevalence estimates of current contraceptive methods being used at the time of enrollment., Results: Compared with the NSFG, CHOICE participants at the time of enrollment were less likely to be contraceptive pill users (16.1% vs. 24.0%) and more likely to use condoms (23.8% vs. 13.8%). Compared with the BRFSS, CHOICE participants were more likely to use condoms (20.4% vs. 12.9%) and withdrawal (6.6% vs. 0.4%)., Conclusion: Despite differences in sampling strategies between CHOICE and state and national surveys, the contraceptive prevalence estimates were largely similar. This information combined with the high rates of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) use after enrollment by CHOICE particiants that have been previously reported by study participants may imply that cost and restricted access to LARC could be essential factors in the low rates of LARC use in the United States., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: We examined prescription adherence rates by contraceptive method among women who used oral contraceptive pills (OCP), transdermal patch or vaginal ring., Study Design: Women in the St. Louis area were provided their choice of OCP, patch or ring at no cost and followed for 18 months. Time between monthly refills was obtained from pharmacy data and analyzed as a marker of adherence. Risk factors for initial nonadherence were estimated using Cox proportional hazards; predictors for repeated nonadherence were analyzed using Poisson regression with robust error variance., Results: Overall, 619 participants filled 6435 contraceptive prescriptions with a median of 10 refills per participant. Only 30% of women (n = 187) obtained all refills on time. In the time-to-failure analysis, use of vaginal ring and increased parity were predictors of early nonadherence (p < .05). In the multivariable analysis, use of the vaginal ring and history of abortion were risk factors for repeated nonadherence (p < .01)., Conclusions: Even with financial barriers removed, pharmacy data show that many women inconsistently refill their contraception and may be at risk for unintended pregnancy., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)