Unmet demand for short-acting hormonal and long-acting reversible contraception among community college students in Texas.

OBJECTIVE

To identify preferences for and use of short-acting hormonal (e.g., oral contraceptives, injectable contraception) or long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) among community college students in Texas.

PARTICIPANTS

Female community college students, ages 18 to 24, at risk of pregnancy, sampled in Fall 2014 or Spring 2015 (N = 966).

METHODS

We assessed characteristics associated with preference for and use of short-acting hormonal or LARC methods (i.e., more-effective contraception).

RESULTS

47% preferred short-acting hormonal methods and 21% preferred LARC, compared to 21% and 9%, respectively, who used these methods. A total of 63% of condom and withdrawal users and 78% of nonusers preferred a more effective method. Many noted cost and insurance barriers as reasons for not using their preferred more-effective method.

CONCLUSIONS

Many young women in this sample who relied on less-effective methods preferred to use more-effective contraception. Reducing barriers could lead to higher uptake in this population at high risk of unintended pregnancy.