Background: Women using primary care vary in need for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) testing and contraception. Psychosocial correlates of these needs may be useful for targeting services. We undertook a systematic review to identify psychosocial correlates of STI acquisition, unplanned pregnancy (UP), abortion and risky sexual behaviours in general population samples of women of reproductive age.
Methods: We searched bibliographic databases for probability surveys of women aged 16-44 years in the European Union, USA, Canada, Australia, UK or New Zealand undertaken January 1994-January 2014.
Results: Eleven papers were included. Unplanned pregnancy was associated with smoking, depression, being single and sexual debut <16 years. Abortion was associated with lack of closeness to parents, leaving home at an early age, and relationship break-up. Multiple partnerships were associated with intensity of marijuana and alcohol use, and smoking. STI diagnosis was associated with relationship break-up and younger partners. Non-use of contraception was associated with smoking, obesity, relationship status, sedentary lifestyles, fatalistic pregnancy attitudes and lower alcohol use. Condom non-use was higher (at first sex) with partners 5+years older and lower (at last sex) in less stable partnerships.
Conclusion: Psychosocial variables, particularly relationship status and smoking, may help identify women in primary care for STI testing and contraception advice and supply.
Keywords: Contraception pregnancy; Review; Sexually transmitted diseases; Systematic primary health care; Unplanned psychosocial factors.
Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.