Some of the psychological influences on contraceptive misuse and rejection are presented, ranging from denial (of the possibility of pregnancy), guilt, sexual identity conflicts, to fear, opportunism (desperation) and iatrogenesis (influence of medical personnel. It is suggested that more attention be focused on these psychological factors as a means to successful population control rather than on the development of the "ideal" contraceptive. In discussion 4 doctors varied in their reactions to the authors' premise that social systems which require or allow volitional and individually initiated contraceptive use - as the sole method for population control - will fail to accomplish that goal.
psychology contraceptive misuse rejection noncompliance, psychological factors contraceptive failure denial guilt, contraceptive noncompliance sexual identity conflict fear, Sandberg Jacobs psychology contraception rejection 1971, volitional contraceptive use population control failure, psychological barriers contraceptive adherence compliance, iatrogenic influence medical personnel contraceptive use, denial pregnancy risk contraceptive misuse psychology, ideal contraceptive debate psychological social factors, contraceptive discontinuation psychological determinants
PMID 5574626 5574626 DOI 10.1016/0002-9378(71)90610-7 10.1016/0002-9378(71)90610-7
Cite this article
Sandberg, E. C., & Jacobs, R. I. (1971). Psychology of the misuse and rejection of contraception. *American journal of obstetrics and gynecology*, *110*(2), 227-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9378(71)90610-7
Sandberg EC, Jacobs RI. Psychology of the misuse and rejection of contraception. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1971;110(2):227-242. doi:10.1016/0002-9378(71)90610-7
Sandberg, Eugene C., and Ralph I. Jacobs. "Psychology of the misuse and rejection of contraception." *American journal of obstetrics and gynecology*, vol. 110, no. 2, 1971, pp. 227-242.
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