Intervention Increases Teens' Dual Contraceptive Use

June 16, 2008

In high-risk women, a transtheoretical model-tailored intervention significantly increases dual contraceptive use but does not affect the incidence of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, according to study findings published in the June issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

MONDAY, June 16 (HealthDay News) -- In high-risk women, a transtheoretical model-tailored intervention significantly increases dual contraceptive use but does not affect the incidence of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, according to study findings published in the June issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Jeffrey F. Peipert, M.D., of Washington University in St. Louis, and colleagues randomly assigned 542 women under 25 years of age to receive either computer-based tailored feedback using a multimedia program (the intervention group), or general contraceptive information and non-tailored advice (the control group). At baseline, 49 percent of subjects had an unintended pregnancy, 47 percent had a history of a sexually transmitted infection, and a majority had at least six lifetime sexual partners.

After 24 months of follow-up, the researchers found that women in the intervention group were 70 percent more likely than controls to report use of dual contraceptive methods, but that there were no group differences in the rates of unintended pregnancy or incident sexually transmitted infections.

"Future trials should focus on methods to encourage consistent use of dual methods to prevent both unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections," the authors conclude.

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