Consistency between most important reasons for using contraception and current method used: the influence of health care providers

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors related to consistency between women's "most important" reason for using contraception and their current contraceptive method. METHODS: A sample of 433 women completed a written questionnaire on demographics, contraceptive use history and the "most important" reason for using contraception. Women were grouped by whether their current contraceptive method "agreed" or "disagreed" with their "most important" reason for contracepting. Multivariable regression was used to identify factors associated with consistency between stated "most important" reason and current method used ("agreed"). RESULTS: Current contraceptive method was inconsistent with the "most important" reason for using a method in 25% of women. Demographic characteristics and knowledge of contraceptive effectiveness did not differ between the "agreed" and "disagreed" groups. Women using a method consistent with their reason were more likely to have discussed contraception with a health care provider (RR=1.59, 95% CI 1.13-2.25) even after adjusting for source of contraceptive method or source of contraceptive information (RR=1.57, 95% CI 1.10-2.23). CONCLUSION: Contact with a health care provider was the only factor associated with consistency between birth control method and reasons for initiating contraception. This association appears to be independent of knowledge about contraceptive effectiveness.