Background: Unintended pregnancies continue to account for half of all pregnancies in the United States, primarily due to incorrect or inconsistent use of contraception methods. Long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) methods are safe and highly effective, yet underutilized. Low uptake of LARC may be due to inadequate education, misconceptions, and cultural factors such as race, ethnicity, or religion. This study examined racial differences in contraceptive awareness and use among women seeking care at family health centers. Materials and Methods: Focus groups were used to identify recurrent themes in contraceptive choice of participants and develop a survey, completed by nonpregnant female patients 18-45 years of age from seven family health centers. Results: Among a total of 465 participants, 210 (46.2%) of whom were non-white, awareness of most types of birth control was generally high. Awareness of all types of contraceptives was significantly higher among white than non-white women (p < 0.001). Across most types of contraceptives, use was significantly higher among white women than non-white women with the exception of injectable hormones which were used significantly more often by non-white women (46.0% vs. 28.5%; p < 0.001). Reasons for using LARC did not vary by type nor by race but reasons for not using LARC varied by race and by specific method. Conclusions: Differing patterns of awareness, use, and perceptions of contraceptive methods between white and non-white women were revealed. By understanding factors that influence contraceptive awareness, use, and perceptions, clinicians can better address the contraceptive needs and concerns of their female patients. Clinical Trial # NCT03486743.
Keywords: contraception; contraceptive knowledge; contraceptive use; racial differences.