Contraceptive practices among women: the second Australian study of health and relationships

Current barriers and potential strategies to increase the use of long‐acting reversible contraception (LARC) to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies in Australia: An expert roundtable discussion

“… data on women's decision‐making processes and influences on their contraceptive choice . While there are recent Australian studies that have examined some of the factors that influence women's decision‐making around their choice of contraceptive, our understanding of the processes involved (including cultural and language factors) is still very limited. Further studies examining Australian women's priorities, as well as the cultural, social and economic influences on their decision‐making processes, are still needed to understand the low uptake of LARC in Australia. data on the cost‐effectiveness of LARC use in Australia relative to other contraceptive methods .…”

“…Based on a survey of pregnant Australian women attending an antenatal clinic, about 30% of pregnancies are ‘unintended’ and one in four pregnancies are terminated, which places Australia's abortion rates among the highest in the developed world . International evidence suggests that long‐acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) can reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies; however, uptake of LARC in Australia has been low (progesterone injection: 1.5%, implant: 4.9%, intra‐uterine devices (IUDs): 6.1%) . Apart from Depo‐Provera, which requires a medical intervention every three months, IUDs and implants virtually eradicate contraceptive failure as they are not user‐dependent.…”

Accidentally-on-purpose: findings from a qualitative study exploring pregnancy intention and long-acting reversible contraceptive use

“…However, rates of use among young Australian women, who have reportedly high rates of unintended pregnancy, are low 4 9 10. Data from the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships, for example, shows high rates of pill and condom use among women aged 20–29 years (49.1% and 37.6%, respectively) as compared with use of IUDs (2.0%) and the contraceptive implant (3.9%) 11. Although increases in LARC use have been seen in Australia over the past 10 years, this increase has mostly occurred among older women who are increasingly using LARC instead of sterilisation 11.…”

“…Data from the Second Australian Study of Health and Relationships, for example, shows high rates of pill and condom use among women aged 20–29 years (49.1% and 37.6%, respectively) as compared with use of IUDs (2.0%) and the contraceptive implant (3.9%) 11. Although increases in LARC use have been seen in Australia over the past 10 years, this increase has mostly occurred among older women who are increasingly using LARC instead of sterilisation 11. While there are many reasons women may choose to use, or not use, LARC, including their potential side effects and fears about their safety,12 13 there has been little exploration into the relationship between pregnancy intention and LARC non-use in the Australian context, despite evidence suggesting the impact of pregnancy intention on LARC (non-)use internationally 14…”

A focus on sexual and reproductive health is central to achieving RANZCOG's goal of excellence in women's health care

“…They are also the most cost effective, largely through the prevention of unintended pregnancy . Patterns of contraceptive utilisation and management in Australia and NZ do not reflect international guidelines, which encourage information and provision about LARC methods and promote LARC use through national policies and clinical guidance documents . In Australia around 11% of reproductive age women use a LARC method, while the estimate in NZ is 9% based on provisional 2015 NZ Health survey data.…”