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Article

Contraceptive Behavior in Appalachia: Exploring Use, Nonuse, and Contraceptive Attitudes

1
School of Nursing, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
2
College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Current address: School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(19), 6862; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20196862
Submission received: 1 September 2023 / Revised: 24 September 2023 / Accepted: 26 September 2023 / Published: 29 September 2023
(This article belongs to the Collection Women's Reproductive and Maternal Health)

Abstract

Very little is known about contraceptive behavior in Appalachia, a large geographic region in the eastern United States where even basic prevalence estimates of contraceptive use/nonuse are lacking. This study characterizes contraceptive behavior among Appalachians, including contraceptive use, reasons for use, and methods used; contraceptive nonuse and reasons for nonuse; and attitudes about contraception, including acceptability. This is a secondary analysis of a subsample of survey data collected on sexual and reproductive health attitudes, behaviors, and needs among reproductive-age women (18–49 years) living in the Appalachian region (n = 332). Results identify rates of contraceptive use (66.6%) and nonuse (33.1%) among Appalachian residents. Methods used most frequently included those that did not require prescription (i.e., external condoms and natural family planning methods) though many reported the use of intrauterine devices (IUDs). Among nonusers, fear of side effects from contraception and ambivalence towards pregnancy were most commonly selected as the most important reason for not using contraception. Contraception was considered acceptable by this sample overall, and these acceptability attitudes were significantly associated with contraceptive behavior.
Keywords: contraception behavior; Appalachian region; acceptability; attitudes contraception behavior; Appalachian region; acceptability; attitudes

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Auerbach, S.; Agbemenu, K.; Lorenz, R.; Hequembourg, A.; Ely, G.E. Contraceptive Behavior in Appalachia: Exploring Use, Nonuse, and Contraceptive Attitudes. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 6862. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20196862

AMA Style

Auerbach S, Agbemenu K, Lorenz R, Hequembourg A, Ely GE. Contraceptive Behavior in Appalachia: Exploring Use, Nonuse, and Contraceptive Attitudes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(19):6862. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20196862

Chicago/Turabian Style

Auerbach, Samantha, Kafuli Agbemenu, Rebecca Lorenz, Amy Hequembourg, and Gretchen E. Ely. 2023. "Contraceptive Behavior in Appalachia: Exploring Use, Nonuse, and Contraceptive Attitudes" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 20, no. 19: 6862. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20196862

APA Style

Auerbach, S., Agbemenu, K., Lorenz, R., Hequembourg, A., & Ely, G. E. (2023). Contraceptive Behavior in Appalachia: Exploring Use, Nonuse, and Contraceptive Attitudes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(19), 6862. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20196862

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