Daniel Grossman, Leticia E. Fernandez, Kristine Hopkins, Jon Amastae, Kari White, and Sandra G. Garcia. "Prevalence of contraindications to oral contraceptives and efficacy of a self-screening instrument in a predominantly Hispanic sample."

Abstract

This study measures the level of contraindications in a sample of predominantly Hispanic women on the US–Mexico border. We also compared women’s ability to screen themselves for contraindications to those of a health professional. We interviewed 1,357 women 18–49 years old, recruited from shopping malls El Paso, Texas. We found that 42.6 percent of women were contraindicated to the pill, higher than previous studies have found. A question asking a woman if she thought the pill was medically safe for her correctly identified 55 percent of women with true contraindications. Using a medical checklist of contraindications, women were more accurate in their self-assessments; respondents correctly identified contraindications 79 percent of the time. Younger women were better at self-screening than older women. Current hormonal users were also better at self-screening, suggesting that over-the-counter access for women seeking refills who have already been screened by a clinician would be particularly safe.

Poster Session 5: Mortality, Adult Health, Aging, and Biology
Friday, 30 March 2007, 11:00 am–1:00 pm

PAA 2007 Conference Web site
 

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This page updated 29 January 2007

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