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How young Australian women explain their use of condoms, withdrawal and fertility awareness: a qualitative analysis of free-text comments from the CUPID study.

Authors :
Coombe, Jacqueline
Wigginton, Britta
Loxton, Deborah
Lucke, Jayne
Harris, Melissa L.
Source :
Culture, Health & Sexuality; Nov2022, Vol. 24 Issue 11, p1563-1574, 12p
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

Rates of oral contraceptive pill use have declined over the past decade in Australia. While some women use highly effective methods, others rely on less effective methods such as condoms, withdrawal and fertility awareness. We aimed to understand motivations for relying on these methods among young women in Australia. Women aged 18–23 years who reported using less effective methods and participated in the Contraceptive Use, Pregnancy Intention and Decisions (CUPID) study formed the sample for this analysis. Using thematic analysis, we analysed 140 free-text comments. Findings suggest that less effective methods were used when they were assessed as being best suited to current reproductive needs. These methods were perceived as offering benefits that hormonal and more invasive methods did not, and participants were largely satisfied with them. By contrast, some less effective method use was driven by a lack of choice or alternative options, previous bad experiences with hormonal methods, a lack of appropriate information about alternatives and difficulty accessing other methods. It is therefore essential to move beyond 'LARC-first' contraceptive counselling approaches to ensure young women are provided with accurate information regarding all contraceptive options available (including how to negotiate their use) and how to use them to their greatest efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
13691058
Volume :
24
Issue :
11
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Culture, Health & Sexuality
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
160259956
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2021.1979656