Condom use among young women in Australia using long-acting reversible contraceptives or other hormonal contraceptives
Julie Nguyen A , Henrietta Williams A B , Kathleen McNamee C D , Nabreesa Shaffeu A , Alaina Vaisey A and Jane Hocking A EA The University of Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, 207 Bouverie Street, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia.
B Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, 580 Swanston Street, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia.
C Family Planning Victoria, 901 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill, Vic. 3128, Australia.
D Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: jhocking@unimelb.edu.au
Sexual Health 16(6) 574-579 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH19045
Submitted: 9 March 2019 Accepted: 27 May 2019 Published: 25 October 2019
Abstract
Background: Dual condom and long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) or non-LARC hormonal contraceptive use is the most effective way to protect against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmissible infections (STIs). This study aimed to determine whether condom use varied between users of LARC and non-LARC hormonal contraceptives and explore their motivations for condom use. Methods: Women aged 16–24 years attending a sexual and reproductive health centre in Melbourne, Australia, completed a survey about contraceptives and sexual practices. The proportion of LARC and non-LARC hormonal contraceptive users using condoms was calculated and logistic regression compared condom use between the two groups. Condom use was based on frequency of use and coded as a binary variable ‘never, not usually or sometimes’ versus ‘usually or always’. Results: In all, 294 (97%) women participated in the study; 23.8% (95% confidence interval (CI) 19.0–29.1%) used LARC and 41.7% (95% CI 36.0–47.6%) used non-LARC hormonal contraceptives. Condom use was reported by 26.1% (95% CI 16.3–38.1%) of LARC users and by 27.8% (95% CI 19.9–37.0%) of non-LARC hormonal contraceptive users. There was no difference in condom use between groups (odds ratio (OR) 0.9; 95% CI 0.4–1.9). Condom use reduced with increasing relationship length (≥6 months vs no relationship: OR 0.2; 95% CI 0.1–0.6). Non-LARC hormonal contraceptive users were more motivated to use condoms if worried about pregnancy than LARC users (62.8% vs 47.8%; P = 0.04). Conclusion: Condom use was low and similar between users of LARC and non-LARC hormonal contraceptives, and was associated with the length of the relationship. These results highlight the need to promote condom use when prescribing LARCs and non-LARC hormonal contraceptives to reduce the risk of STIs.
Additional keywords: dual contraceptive methods, sexually transmissible infections.
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