Britta Wigginton1, Melissa L Harris2, Deb Loxton3, Jayne Lucke4. 1. School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: b.wigginton@uq.edu.au. 2. Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Electronic address: Melissa.Harris@newcastle.edu.au. 3. Research Centre for Gender, Health and Ageing, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Electronic address: Deborah.Loxton@newcastle.edu.au. 4. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Victoria 3000, Australia; UQ Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Australia. Electronic address: j.lucke@latrobe.edu.au.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Developments in reversible forms of female contraception are more advanced than developments in male contraception - which are still limited to the condom. These technological advancements have arguably shaped views around who should take responsibility for contraception. We investigate the notion that responsibility relates to gender-specific contraceptives. METHODS: We aimed to explore young women's reports of contraceptive responsibility based on the last time they had sex, using demographic and free-text data from 1906 women who completed a longitudinal survey about contraceptive use. We analysed four patterns of responsibility: the woman took responsibility; the sexual partner took responsibility; both took responsibility; neither took responsibility. RESULTS: Our quantitative analyses found significant differences between the four groups on the following variables: contraceptive use at last sex, relationship status, ever been pregnant, parity, and medical consultations for contraception in the past six months. Our qualitative analysis identified distinct variability within and between the four patterns of responsibility in terms of contraceptive use and gender responsible. CONCLUSIONS: These findings challenge the gendered portrayal of contraceptive responsibility, in that women's responsibility is not necessarily tied to women-specific methods and vice versa. We encourage increased dialogue around contraceptive responsibility and decision-making in both clinical and educational settings.
OBJECTIVE: Developments in reversible forms of female contraception are more advanced than developments in male contraception - which are still limited to the condom. These technological advancements have arguably shaped views around who should take responsibility for contraception. We investigate the notion that responsibility relates to gender-specific contraceptives. METHODS: We aimed to explore young women's reports of contraceptive responsibility based on the last time they had sex, using demographic and free-text data from 1906 women who completed a longitudinal survey about contraceptive use. We analysed four patterns of responsibility: the woman took responsibility; the sexual partner took responsibility; both took responsibility; neither took responsibility. RESULTS: Our quantitative analyses found significant differences between the four groups on the following variables: contraceptive use at last sex, relationship status, ever been pregnant, parity, and medical consultations for contraception in the past six months. Our qualitative analysis identified distinct variability within and between the four patterns of responsibility in terms of contraceptive use and gender responsible. CONCLUSIONS: These findings challenge the gendered portrayal of contraceptive responsibility, in that women's responsibility is not necessarily tied to women-specific methods and vice versa. We encourage increased dialogue around contraceptive responsibility and decision-making in both clinical and educational settings.
Authors: Anna-Karin Waenerlund; Miguel San Sebastian; Anna-Karin Hurtig; Maria Wiklund; Monica Christianson; Isabel Goicolea Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2020-04-23 Impact factor: 2.655