Finding the best fit: a grounded theory of contraceptive decision making in women.

PROBLEM: Half of the pregnancies in the United States that occur annually are unintended, and of these, half occur among women using contraceptives.

METHODS

Interviews with 16 women,field notes, and memos were analyzed using constant comparative analysis and the methods of open, axial, and selective coding were used until saturation occurred.

FINDINGS: The core category that describes the process of contraceptive decision making in women is "finding the best fit." Women choose a method or methods to prevent pregnancy based on their knowledge, experience, and evaluation of what would be the best fit within the context of their current life situation.

CONCLUSIONS

It is important that nurses obtain a thorough contraceptive history, and realize that women may have different perceptions and knowledge level of methods.