Rauchfuss, M., Stanford, J. B., & Mikolajczyk, R. T. (2003). Factors influencing the choice to use modern natural family planning. Contraception, 67(4), 253-258. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0010-7824(02)00490-0
Rauchfuss M, Stanford JB, Mikolajczyk RT. Factors influencing the choice to use modern natural family planning. Contraception. 2003;67(4):253-258. doi:10.1016/s0010-7824(02)00490-0
Rauchfuss, M., et al. "Factors influencing the choice to use modern natural family planning." Contraception, vol. 67, no. 4, 2003, pp. 253-258.
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Department of Psychosomatics, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Linked to ROR, the Research Organization Registry
RRM Academy Synopsis
Perceived accuracy is associated with choosing natural family planning
A questionnaire study of postpartum women in Berlin and Cracow found that women who rated natural family planning as accurate were more likely to choose it. About 6 out of 10 women surveyed said they could consider the method. Body acceptance and religious belief were also linked to choice.
Key Findings
60% of women said they could consider modern NFP (53% in Berlin, 68% in Cracow), and 14% of the women in the study chose it (8% in Berlin, 20% in Cracow).
Among the 104 women who could consider NFP and had decided on a method, 54% chose it, alone or with condoms: 36% in Berlin and 66% in Cracow.
Perceived accuracy of NFP for predicting the fertile time had odds ratios of 3.52 (95% CI 2.03–6.09) for consideration and 12.33 (95% CI 2.62–58.05) for choice.
Acceptance of one's own body had odds ratios of 2.20 (95% CI 1.29–3.78) for consideration and 8.27 (95% CI 2.19–31.06) for choice.
Among women who could consider NFP, choice was also associated with a wish for future pregnancies (odds ratio 7.01, 95% CI 1.85–26.59), religious belief (4.52, 1.16–17.62) and living in Cracow (4.68, 1.19–18.43).
Interpretation
Women received the questionnaire during their postpartum hospital stay in Berlin or Cracow. Logistic regression found the factors independently associated with considering NFP and with choosing it, meaning the method a woman planned to use after nursing. The authors propose that more access and cultural support would likely raise NFP use in developed countries. The authors note that the sample was limited to postpartum women.
RRM Context
Modern NFP methods find the fertile part of the cycle by watching cervical mucus, with or without basal body temperature. Restorative reproductive medicine builds on the same cycle charting. Women who trust the method and accept their own bodies were more likely to choose it, which fits the body literacy that restorative care teaches.
Our editorial summary of this paper, not the article's abstract.
Abstract
A discrepancy exists between the interest in modern methods of natural family planning (NFP) and their actual use in developed countries. To explore reasons for this discrepancy, we analyzed data from a questionnaire administered to postpartum women in Berlin (n = 223) and Cracow (n = 233). Knowledge of NFP, past use of NFP and expected effects of abstinence on the partnership were independently associated with interest in using NFP, but not the choice to do so among those interested. Desire for future pregnancies, importance of religious belief and location in Cracow were independently associated with the choice to use NFP among those interested. Perceived accuracy of observation to identify the fertile time and acceptance of own body were independently associated with both interest in and choice to use NFP. Frequency of intercourse had no effect on interest. These results suggest that increased access and cultural support would likely lead to a higher prevalence of NFP use in developed countries.
Contraception › Family Planning Use and Attitudes › Attitudes and Acceptability · Fertility Awareness › Use and Experience › Shared Decision Making · Ethics and Policy › Advocacy and Public Understanding › Public Awareness
Joseph B Stanford, Martina Rauchfuss
Joe Stanford, Joey Stanford, J Stanford, M Rauchfuss
PMID 12684143 12684143 DOI 10.1016/s0010-7824(02)00490-0 10.1016/s0010-7824(02)00490-0 Rauchfuss et al. 2003, Rauchfuss 2003
Keywords
Adult, Choice Behavior, Contraception/statistics & Numerical Data, Developed Countries, Family Planning Services/statistics & Numerical Data, Female, Germany, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Humans, Logistic Models, Poland, Religion, Sexual Abstinence, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States
