Skip to main content
eScholarship
Open Access Publications from the University of California

UCSF

UC San Francisco Previously Published Works bannerUCSF

Factors associated with lack of effective contraception among obese women in the United States

Published Web Location

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010782414002480
No data is associated with this publication.
Creative Commons 'BY' version 4.0 license
Abstract

Objective

To identify factors associated with contraceptive nonuse and use of less effective methods among obese women in the US.

Study design

We analyzed data from sexually active obese women (body mass index >30 kg/m²) age 20-44 using the 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth. We conducted multinomial logistic regression to assess associations between current contraceptive use and demographic, reproductive and health services factors. Specifically, we compared contraceptive nonusers, behavioral method users (withdrawal and fertility awareness) and barrier method users (condoms) to prescription method users (pill, patch, ring, injection, implant and intrauterine device).

Results

Of 1345 obese respondents, 21.5% used no method, 10.3% behavioral methods, 20.8% barrier methods and 47.4% prescription methods. Only 42.4% of respondents overall and 20.4% of nonprescription method users reported discussing contraception with a provider in the past year. Similar to findings in the general population, behavioral method users were more likely to have previously discontinued a contraceptive method due to dissatisfaction [adjusted RR (aRR), 1.93; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09-3.44], and nonusers were more likely to perceive difficulty becoming pregnant (aRR, 3.86; 95% CI, 2.04-7.29), compared to prescription method users. Respondents using nonprescription methods were significantly less likely to have discussed contraception with a healthcare provider (nonusers: aRR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.10-0.27; behavioral methods: aRR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.06-0.25, barrier methods: aRR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.09-0.25) than prescription method users.

Conclusions

Obese women who discuss contraception with a provider are more likely to use effective contraception and may be less likely to experience unintended pregnancy; however, over half report no recent discussion of contraception with a provider.

Implications

Efforts are needed to increase contraceptive counseling for obese women, who face increased risks of morbidity from unintended pregnancy.

Many UC-authored scholarly publications are freely available on this site because of the UC's open access policies. Let us know how this access is important for you.

Item not freely available? Link broken?
Report a problem accessing this item