Sociodemographic Factors Associated with the Knowledge and Use of Birth Control Methods in Adolescents before and after Pregnancy

Abstract

Adolescent pregnancy rates are high worldwide. However, insufficient information exists regarding the frequency of birth control methods used before the first pregnancy and postpartum. In the current study, we analyzed the association of sociodemographic factors with the knowledge of birth control methods and their use before and after pregnancy in a sample of adolescents in Mexico City. A cohort study was conducted on 600 pregnant adolescents in Mexico City, from 2013 to 2017, at a health care institution providing prenatal care. Participants were assessed during the second trimester and four months postpartum. The questionnaire explored the knowledge of birth control methods, their use, and other associated factors. Two logistic regression models were implemented to identify potential variables associated with the lack of birth control method use before and after pregnancy. The mean age of participants was 15.4 + 1 years, of which, 48% and 65.2% used a birth control method before pregnancy and postpartum, respectively. We found that the main factors associated with increased risk of not using any birth control method before pregnancy included being under the age of 15 years, school dropout, having an educational lag, initiation of sexual life before the age of 15, and having a mother who did not inform their child about contraceptives. By contrast, variables associated with a higher risk of not using any contraceptive methods after pregnancy included educational lag, lower level of education, and the fact that the adolescent had not used any birth control prior to the pregnancy.

Young Nursing Student’s Knowledge and Attitudes about Contraceptive Methods

“…Similar results were found by Kgosiemang and Blitz [ 22 ] for the emergency contraceptive pill ( p < 0.001). However, in our study, the significant effect was not maintained in the subsequent multivariate analysis, although the level of knowledge is an important element for the development of positive attitudes toward the use of contraceptive methods, coinciding with two previous researches [ 6 , 23 ]. The weak correlation between the level of knowledge and the score on the attitude scale indicates the existence of other variables involved in the development of attitudes toward contraception that should be investigated qualitatively.…”

“…In addition to this knowledge deficit, the age of initiation of sexual relations was 16.5 years, similar to that found in other research [ 5 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Therefore, the need for more training in early stages, before the onset of sexual relations to prevent negative consequences related to their experience of sexuality should be emphasized [ 23 , 27 ] through education programs on sexual and reproductive health and consultation units in universities [ 28 ].…”

Factors related to Pregnancy Status Among Lebanese Women During COVID-19 Confinement

“…Indeed, families with multiple children may consider any potential pregnancy as unwanted and rely on birth control methods to prevent pregnancy [63][64][65][66]. Moreover, educated and empowered women are more likely to take control of their reproductive health and household management [67][68][69]; they would refuse to have forced intercourse or unwanted pregnancy, using contraception methods to avoid further childbearing and unsafe abortion [70][71][72]. Additionally, women of advanced maternal age, with adequate education and free from nancial constraints, have more access to contraceptives than their peers [73,74].…”

Factors related to Pregnancy Outcome Among Lebanese Women During COVID-19 Confinement

“…Indeed, families with multiple children may consider any potential pregnancy as unwanted and rely on birth control methods to prevent pregnancy (63)(64)(65)(66). Moreover, educated and empowered women are more likely to take control of their reproductive health and household management (67)(68)(69); they would refuse to have forced intercourse or unwanted pregnancy, using contraception methods to avoid further childbearing and unsafe abortion (70)(71)(72). Additionally, women of advanced maternal age, with adequate education and free from nancial constraints, have more access to contraceptives than their peers (73,74).…”