The US Army represents a community of young adults at risk for unintended pregnancy/paternity. The present study evaluated pregnancy/paternity intention on contraceptive choice amongst new, sexually active, and non-pregnant recruits. A total of 592 males and 503 females completed self-administered surveys asking about pregnancy/paternity intention, contraceptive use at last intercourse, and potential confounding factors. Multidimensional measurement of pregnancy intention was developed. Contraceptive efficacy was categorized as a four-level ordinal variable. Multivariate ordinal regression measured the association between pregnancy/paternity intention and the most productive birth control method used at last intercourse.
Seven percent of participants planned pregnancy in the next six months, but almost 33% of them used no birth control at last intercourse. Each unit increase in pregnancy avoidance scale was associated with a 14% increase in the birth control method’s efficacy. The effectiveness of the birth control method increased for age, post-secondary education, and male gender. Binge drinking reduced the likelihood of being in a higher category of birth control use.
The study concluded that the intention to avoid pregnancy and being male was associated with the use of higher-level birth control methods.
Reference: https://srh.bmj.com/content/34/3/165
