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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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.
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.
Family Planning Use and Attitudes · Relationships and Family Outcomes
Borrero S et al., 2014·Contraception·Free full text on PubMed Central
Unintended pregnancy is common and disproportionately occurs among low-income women. We conducted a qualitative study with low-income women to better typologize pregnancy intention, understand the relationship between pregnancy intention and contraceptive use, and identify the contextual factors that shape pregnancy intention and contraceptive behavior. Semistructured interviews were conducted with low-income, African-American and white women aged 18-45 recruited from reproductive health clinics in Pittsburgh, PA, to explore factors that influence women's pregnancy-related behaviors. Narratives were analyzed using content analysis and the constant comparison method. Among the 66 participants (36 African-American and 30 white), we identified several factors that may impede our public health goal of increasing the proportion of pregnancies that are consciously desired and planned. First, women do not always perceive that they have reproductive control and therefore do not necessarily formulate clear pregnancy intentions. Second, the benefits of a planned pregnancy may not be evident. Third, because preconception intention and planning do not necessarily occur, decisions about the acceptability of a pregnancy are often determined after the pregnancy has already occurred. Finally, even when women express a desire to avoid pregnancy, their contraceptive behaviors are not necessarily congruent with their desires. We also identified several clinically relevant and potentially modifiable factors that help to explain this intention-behavior discrepancy, including women's perceptions of low fecundity and their experiences with male partner contraceptive sabotage. Our findings suggest that the current conceptual framework that views pregnancy-related behaviors from a strict planned behavior perspective may be limited, particularly among low-income populations. This study identified several cognitive and interpersonal pathways to unintended pregnancy among low-income women in Pittsburgh, PA, including perceptions of low reproductive control, perceptions of low fecundity and male partner reproductive coercion.
Family Planning Use and Attitudes · Attitudes and Acceptability
User satisfaction and the physical and psychological effects of five commonly used contraceptive methods were investigated in a population survey among 1466 West German women. The focus was on effects attributed by current and past users to these methods, rather than objectively assessed effects, to shed further light on personal experiences that are highly relevant to the user but often remain unknown to prescribers and unreported in the medical literature. Within the overall sample, 1303 women were surveyed concerning their current or past use of oral contraceptives (OC), 996 regarding condoms, 342 with respect to intrauterine devices (IUD), 428 in regard to natural family planning (NFP), and 139 in relation to sterilization (respondents completed questions about each method used). It emerged that satisfaction was greatest with sterilization (92% of users), followed by OC (68% of ever users), IUD (59%), NFP (43%), and condoms (30%). Almost one in three NFP users had experienced an unwanted pregnancy during use of this method, as compared with one in 20 OC and condom users. The majority of users reported no mood changes during use of the methods studied. The percentages reporting negative mood changes (various items were scored) were up to 16% among OC users, 23% among condom users, and 30% among NFP users. The latter observations suggested that subjective side effects of a contraceptive agent on mood generally reflected, at least in part, the user's sense of confidence in the method concerned (notably, with regard to efficacy and safety). Oral contraceptives, IUD, and sterilization had a broadly positive impact on sex life, whereas that of condoms was often negative. Whereas OC users often reported less heavy and painful menstruation (in up to 56% of cases), IUD were associated with heavier, prolonged, and more painful menstruation (in up to 65% of cases), as also was sterilization, although to a lesser extent (in up to 32% of cases). Overall, the study findings indicated that OC and sterilization had less negative impact on physical and psychological functioning than the other methods studied, in contrast to what the general public often believes.
Family Planning Use and Attitudes · Attitudes and Acceptability
Davidson AV et al., 2023·Kans J Med·Free full text on PubMed Central
Evidence-based, nonbiased, counseling on contraceptive options, followed by shared decision-making, is key in facilitating reproductive justice in a diverse population. An estimated 3% of contraceptive users in the United States use fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) for contraception, and demand for these methods is increasing. FABMs can be a highly effective form of family planning when used in accordance with evidence-based protocols. They are preferred by some patients due to medical contraindications to hormonal contraceptives, lack of side effects, religious convictions, preference to avoid hormones or contraceptive devices, improved body literacy, or a combination of the above. FABMs are infrequently covered in medical school curricula and are often perceived by physicians to be of low efficacy. There is an opportunity for improvement of physicians' evidence-based knowledge of FABMs, which has the potential to improve patient understanding of and access to the full menu of family planning options. A self-administered, cross-sectional survey was distributed to assess physician knowledge and opinions of FABMs by key university contacts. Univariate and bivariate statistics were calculated for close-ended questions and responses to open-ended questions were analyzed for common themes. A total of 79 participants completed the entire survey. Another 11 submitted partially completed surveys. For completed surveys, questions assessing knowledge of key concepts underlying FABMs, performance by specialty was 55% correct for OB/GYN (n = 16), 55% (n = 47) correct for family medicine, 36% (n = 10) correct for internal medicine, and 35% (n = 6) correct for pediatrics. Negative, neutral, mixed, and positive opinions related to FABMs were represented. There are opportunities to improve physicians' evidence-based knowledge of FABMs; this may improve patient-centered contraceptive care.
Contraception › Family Planning Use and Attitudes › Attitudes and Acceptability
PMID 5574626 5574626 DOI 10.1016/0002-9378(71)90610-7 10.1016/0002-9378(71)90610-7 Sandberg et al. 1971, Sandberg 1971
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.