Access to contraceptive information is significant for the sexual and reproductive well-being of adolescents and young adults (AYA). Such information can encourage AYAs to practice informed decision-making and bodily autonomy, whereas inaccurate information can be harmful. Authors of a study published in JAMA Network Open examined AYA patients’ preferred and actual sources of contraceptive information. Additionally, they assessed associations present with the reporting of sufficient information.
For this cross-sectional study, data were collected, reviewed, and approved by the Biomedical Research Alliance of New York institutional review board. The report followed Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology reporting guidelines and included self-reported data from the 2023 Thanks, Birth Control Survey, which was administered online to AYAs aged 15 to 29 years and assigned female at birth (AFAB). Any minors were recruited through a parent and all participants provided information consent or assent electronically.
All 1150 participants who were AFAB reported their preferred sources of contraceptive information as well as their past-year contraceptive information sources, or their actual sources. The investigators evaluated the distribution of both preferred and actual sources and conducted multivariable logistic regression to assess correlations between participants who report sufficient information and decide which contraceptive method was right for them. Models were stratified by age (<18 years, 19-24 years, and 25-29 years) and adjustments were made for participants who have had sex.
Among the total study population, approximately 21% were under the age of 18, 44% were 18 to 24 years, and 35% were 25 to 29. Additionally, most of the participants were White (51%), and the remaining were Hispanic (24%), Black (14%), multiracial (6%) or non-Hispanic other (5%) in which their race was self-reported through the survey.
Key Takeaways
- Health Care Providers and Parents Are Preferred Sources: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) primarily preferred receiving contraceptive information from clinicians and health care providers, especially as they age; however, there is a significant gap between preferred and actual sources, with only a fraction actually using them as sources.
- Social Media Plays a Growing Role: While social networking sites are not commonly preferred by AYAs, they are increasingly used as actual sources of contraceptive information, especially among those aged 18 to 24 years. These platforms are not linked to providing sufficient contraceptive information.
- Quality of Information Depends on Source: Participants who received contraceptive information from providers or parents reported feeling more informed compared to those relying on other sources, such as school, peers, or social media. The study suggests involving health care providers more actively in online platforms to improve access to accurate information can be beneficial.
Discrepancies were present between AYAs’ preferred and actual sources of contraceptive information with variations present depending on the age group. Overall, clinicians and health care professionals were the most commonly preferred source in all age groups (<18 years: 68%; 18-24 years: 84%; and 25-29 years: 87%); however, it was noticeably less common as an actual source (<18 years: 33%; 18-24 years: 43%; and 25-29 years: 50%). Further, approximately 59% of participants who were younger than 18 reported that their parents were their preferred source, but only 36% actually received information from their parents.
Additionally, social networking sites and platforms were not commonly preferred across all groups (<18 years: 6%; 18-24 years: 12%; and 25-29 years: 10%) but it was the second most common actual source for respondents aged 18 and older (18-24 years: 28%; and 25-29 years: 18%). Further, approximately one-third of all participants did not receive any contraceptive information in the past year (<18 years: 30%; 18-24 years: 35%; and 25-29 years: 36%).
The investigators also observed that participants’ actual source was associated with having self-reported sufficient information about contraception. For example, patients had a greater odds of reporting sufficient information if their source was a clinician or health care professional (HCP), compared with those who reported other sources or no source. Younger participants below the age of 18 who used parents as an actual source also had greater odds of reporting sufficient information. Overall, the investigators observed that schools, peers, websites, and social networking sites and platforms were not associated with sufficient information.
The primary limitations of the study were potential recall biases because of parental consent requirement for minor participants and past year information sources. The findings, however, demonstrate the value of parents and HCPs as sources of sufficient contraceptive information. The authors suggest that to improve information that is available in online spaces, HCP engagement should be implemented to engage with AYA users who prefer receiving their information on such platforms.
REFERENCE
Pleasants E, Whitfield B, Pleasure ZH, et al. Adolescents and Young Adults’ Sources of Contraceptive Information. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(9):e2433310. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.33310
