Acceptance of long-acting reversible contraceptive methods by adolescent participants in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project

Background: Adolescent women have a high risk of unintended pregnancy. Currently, there are little data about their choice to initiate long-acting reversible contraception (LARC). Study Design: We evaluated the association of age and preference for a LARC vs. a non-LARC method among adolescent participants in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project, comparing those aged 14-17 years to adolescents aged 18-20 years. We then analyzed the association between age and choice of the implant vs. the intrauterine device (IUD) among adolescents. Results: Of the 5086 women enrolled, 70% (n=3557) of participants chose a LARC method. Among adolescents aged 14-20 years, 69% of 14-17-year-olds chose LARC, while 61% of 18-20-year-olds chose LARC (relative risk 1.16, 95% confidence interval 1.03-1.30). Among adolescents choosing a LARC method, 63% (n=93/148) of the 14-17-year-olds chose the implant, whereas 71% (n=364/510) of the 18-20-year-olds chose the IUD. Conclusion: Long-acting reversible contraception use is clearly acceptable and common among adolescents enrolled in the Contraceptive CHOICE Project, with the younger group being most interested in the implant. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.