Brief report: Influence of mandatory contraceptive education emphasizing long-acting reversible methods on continuation rates among military recruits

Christina M Roberts; Joshua M Smalley; William P Adelman; Larissa F Weir; Elisabeth Hisle-Gorman

doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2023.110295

Brief report: Influence of mandatory contraceptive education emphasizing long-acting reversible methods on continuation rates among military recruits

Contraception. 2023 Dec:128:110295. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2023.110295. Epub 2023 Sep 20.

Authors

Christina M Roberts¹, Joshua M Smalley², William P Adelman³, Larissa F Weir⁴, Elisabeth Hisle-Gorman⁵

Affiliations

¹ Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Mercy, University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA. Electronic address: taroberts@cmh.edu.
² Division of Adolescent Medicine, Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX, USA.
³ Student Health and Counseling, University of Pennsylvania Wellness, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Division of Adolescent Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
⁴ Readiness Analysis Comprehensive Evaluation (RACE), Air Force Medical Readiness Agency (AFMRA), Falls Church, VA, USA.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA; Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD, USA.

PMID: 37739301
DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2023.110295

Abstract

Objectives: Determine if the replacement of patient-initiated, individual contraceptive education with mandatory group contraceptive education, during US Navy basic training, was associated with decreased LARC continuation.

Study design: Secondary analysis of administrative billing data from female military recruits who began basic training between September 2012 and February 2020.

Results: Servicewomen who started LARC method during rather than after basic training had higher continuation rates. Servicewomen who started training before the implementation of mandatory group education had higher IUD continuation than those trained after.

Conclusions: Implementation of mandatory group contraceptive education during basic training was not associated with a decline in LARC continuation.

Keywords: Contraceptive counseling; Female; Long-acting reversible contraception; Military.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Contraception / methods
Contraception Behavior
Contraceptive Agents, Female*
Contraceptive Devices
Female
Humans
Military Personnel*

Substances

Contraceptive Agents, Female