Contraception and the media: lessons past, present and future

Foran, Terri

doi:10.1080/13625187.2018.1563067

Cited by 17 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Such contestation of established expertise has often been understood in terms of misunderstanding of science (40), public knowledge deficits [ (40,41), or misinformation (33,34). Accordingly, studies observing negative attitudes toward the copper IUD, not least as communicated online and through other social networks, have emphasized the importance of countering misinformation (22,30,32,42). Negative or hesitant views on medical matters, which misalign with established expertise, have furthermore been associated with a lack of trust not only in the medical products themselves but in organizations producing and administering them and in societal institutions at large (43,44).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitudes Toward the Copper IUD in Sweden: A Survey Study

Wemrell

Gunnarsson

2022

Front. Glob. Womens Health

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BackgroundWhile the efficacy and safety of the contraceptive copper intrauterine device (IUD) have been affirmed, alongside its importance for the prevention of unintended pregnancies, some studies have pointed to negative attitudes toward the device. In recent years, social media communication about it has included claims about systemic side effects, unsubstantiated by medical authorities. Research from the Swedish context is sparse. This study investigates attitudes toward the copper IUD and any correlations between negative attitudes toward or experiences of the device, and (1) sociodemographic characteristics, (2) the evaluation of the reliability of different sources of information, and (3) trust in healthcare and other societal institutions.MethodsA survey was distributed online to adult women in Sweden (n = 2,000). Aside from descriptive statistics, associations between negative attitudes toward or experiences of the copper IUD and sociodemographic and other variables were calculated using logistic regressions and expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Open survey responses (n = 650) were analyzed thematically.ResultsWhile many reported positive attitudes toward and experiences of the IUD, 34.7% of all respondents reported negative attitudes and 45.4% of users reported negative experiences. Negative attitudes were strongly correlated with negative experiences. Negative attitudes and experiences were associated with low income, but no conclusive associations were identified with other socioeconomic variables. Negative attitudes and experiences were associated with lower levels of confidence in and satisfaction with healthcare, as well as lower self-assessed access and ability to assess the origin and reliability of information about the IUD. In open responses, negative comments were prevalent and included references to both common and unestablished perceived side-effects. Respondents pointed to problematic aspects of information and knowledge about the copper IUD and called for improved healthcare communication and updated research.ConclusionHealthcare provider communication about the copper IUD should promote reproductive autonomy and trust by providing clear information about potential side effects and being open to discuss women's experiences and concerns. Further research on copper IUD dissatisfaction and ways in which health professionals do and may best respond to it is needed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitudes Toward the Copper IUD in Sweden: A Survey Study

Wemrell

Gunnarsson

2022

Front. Glob. Womens Health

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“…The role of media and social media Misinformation about health-related topics is abundant on social media, [106][107][108][109] and contraception is not an exception. 110 A study of .838,000 Twitter messages on contraceptives posted between March 2006, when Twitter was founded, and the end of 2019, found that the number of tweets during this time increased by almost 300-fold.…”

Section: Areas Of Uncertaintymentioning

confidence: 99%

Emergency Contraception: Access and Challenges at Times of Uncertainty

Stein¹,

Deverakonda²,

Katz

et al. 2022

American Journal of Therapeutics

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Background:The UN Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children identified emergency contraceptive pills as 1 of the 13 essential underused, low-cost, and high-impact commodities that could save the lives of millions of women and children worldwide. In the US, 2 emergency contraceptive regimens are currently approved, and their most plausible mechanism of action involves delaying and/or inhibiting ovulation.Areas of uncertainty:Abortion and contraception are recognized as essential components of reproductive health care. In the US, in the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization Supreme Court decision on June 24, 2022, 26 states began to or are expected to severely restrict abortion. It is anticipated that these restrictions will increase the demand for emergency contraception (EC). Several obstacles to EC access have been described, and these include cost, hurdles to over-the-counter purchase, low awareness, myths about their mechanisms of action, widespread misinformation, and barriers that special populations face in accessing them. The politicization of EC is a major factor limiting access. Improving sex education and health literacy, along with eHealth literacy, are important initiatives to improve EC uptake and access.Data Sources:PubMed, The Guttmacher Institute, Society of Family Planning, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the World Health Organization, The United Nations.Therapeutic Advances:A randomized noninferiority trial showed that the 52 mg levonorgestrel intrauterine device was noninferior to the copper intrauterine device when used as an EC method in the first 5 days after unprotected intercourse. This is a promising and highly effective emergency contraceptive option, particularly for overweight and obese patients, and a contraceptive option with a different bleeding profile than the copper intrauterine device.Conclusions:EC represents an important facet of medicine and public health. The 2 medical regimens currently approved in the US are very effective, have virtually no medical contraindications, and novel formulations are actively being investigated to make them more convenient and effective for all patient populations. Barriers to accessing EC, including the widespread presence of contraception deserts, threaten to broaden and accentuate the already existing inequities and disparities in society, at a time when they have reached the dimensions of a public health crisis.

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“…The opinion of users and potential users of contraception, including adolescents, are certainly also worth investigating. In this way, current and future research can inform accompanying measures that anticipate reactions to policy changes including those expressed in the media known to have a real impact on patients [55].…”

Section: Open Questions and Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hormonal contraception without a prescription: opinions of pharmacists, general practitioners and gynaecologists in Flanders, Belgium

Nieuwinckel

Cornwell

Meyer

et al. 2019

The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health

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Objective: The accessibility of contraceptives varies greatly from country to country. Because unintended pregnancies have a considerable impact, programmes have been initiated in some countries to make certain contraceptives available without a prescription. We therefore investigated whether or not Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, is ready for such an initiative. Method:We used a mixed-methods approach with a mainly qualitative methodology. The opinions of pharmacists, general practitioners (GPs) and gynaecologists, the three types of health care provider most closely involved in the prescription and delivery of contraception, were examined.Results: A majority of pharmacists supported the idea. Moreover, a large majority occasionally dispensed hormonal contraception without a prescription. Pharmacists expected negative responses from physicians. Among GPs and gynaecologists, a small majority supported the idea conditionally. A minority either fully supported the idea or found it completely unacceptable. Conclusion:Economic aspects were clearly important in forming an opinion on the topic, although medical arguments were often used when they happened to point in the same direction.Flemish pharmacists were willing to train for and implement a new service that would provide contraceptives without a prescription. The majority of GPs and gynaecologists expressed reservations about such a service and doubted that it would reduce unintended pregnancies. If this service were to be implemented, caution would be needed to avoid giving contraceptive users conflicting information.

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Contraception and the media: lessons past, present and future

Cited by 17 publications

References 20 publications

Attitudes Toward the Copper IUD in Sweden: A Survey Study

Attitudes Toward the Copper IUD in Sweden: A Survey Study

Emergency Contraception: Access and Challenges at Times of Uncertainty

Hormonal contraception without a prescription: opinions of pharmacists, general practitioners and gynaecologists in Flanders, Belgium

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