BackgroundAdoption of contraceptive implants and intrauterine devices has been less than might be expected given their superior efficacy and convenience. The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge and beliefs held by women, which may influence their contraceptive choices and theirongoing utilization of contraceptive methods.MethodsEnglish speaking, nonpregnant, reproductive-age women, who were not surgically sterilized, were individually interviewed to obtain limited demographic characteristics and to assess their knowledge about the efficacy of various contraceptive methods in typical use and about the relative safety of oral contraceptives.ResultsA convenience sample of 500 women aged 18–45 years, with education levels that ranged from middle school to postdoctoral level was interviewed. The efficacy in typical use of both combined oral contraceptives and male condoms was correctly estimated by 2.2%; over two-thirds of women significantly overestimated the efficacy of each of those methods in typical use. Oral contraceptives were thought to be at least as hazardous to a woman’s health as pregnancy by 56% of women.ConclusionsThe majority of reproductive aged women surveyed substantially overestimated the efficacy of the two most popular contraceptive methods, often saying that they were 99% effective. Women with higher education levels were most likely to overestimate efficacy of oral contraceptives. Women of all ages and education levels significantly overestimated the health hazards of oral contraceptives compared to pregnancy. Overestimation of effectiveness of these methods of contraception, may contribute to lower adoption of implants and intrauterine devices. When individualizing patient counselling, misperceptions must be identified and addressed with women of all educational backgrounds.Trial registrationNot applicable.

Fusarium wilt of strawberry, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae, is a disease of primary concern for strawberry production in many countries. Crop rotation and anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) have gained recent interest for their potential to contribute to management of this disease. Both techniques involve incorporation of organic matter into soil, which may be utilized by strains of Fusarium that are competitive saprophytes. We show that F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae can colonize strawberry, lettuce, raspberry, and broccoli leaf tissues, which are sources of organic matter generated during crop rotation. This pathogen increased in soil population density during ASD treatments that did not become anaerobic, possibly as a result of growth on the organic amendment. However, significant population decreases were observed after ASD treatment when at least 100,000 cumulative reduced mV hours occurred in a 14‐day experiment. Post‐ASD abundance of F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae in soil was negatively correlated with cumulative reduced mV hours. The only treatment that consistently caused disinfestation was exposed to a maximum temperature of 22 °C, which indicates there is potential for developing effective ASD treatments in the cool climates where strawberries are grown. Awareness that F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae can act as a competitive soil saprophyte should be further investigated for its potential to alter disease outcomes where organic amendments are applied.

No abstract