Women's knowledge of, and attitudes to, contraceptive effectiveness and adverse health effects

TLDR

The study aimed to assess women’s knowledge of contraceptive effectiveness and thrombosis risks, their attitudes toward bleeding irregularities and weight changes, and the information they desire about contraceptives. Researchers conducted semi‑structured focus groups with 45 women of varied life stages in Oxford, supplemented by structured questionnaires and qualitative discussions, grouping participants into professional mothers, non‑professional mothers, young unmarried professionals, and undergraduate students. Participants overestimated thrombosis risks, underestimated hormonal contraceptive effectiveness, and expressed resistance to changes in bleeding patterns and weight.

Abstract

Our objectives were to determine women's knowledge of the effectiveness of different contraceptive methods and the risks of thrombosis with use of hormonal contraceptives, and their attitudes regarding the acceptability of bleeding irregularities and weight change. An additional aim was to determine what information women want to be given about contraceptives. In order to satisfy the study objectives, a series of semi-structured focus groups was conducted with women of differing life-stage and background from Oxford. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Qualitative data were collected through discussion with group members. Forty-five women attended four focus groups. Women were segregated into the following groups: professional working mothers; non-professional mothers; young, unmarried professional women; and undergraduate students. Women tended to overestimate the risks and underestimate the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives. They were resistant to interference with their bleeding patterns and weight.