Contraceptive choice and decision‐making among college students in a Southeastern US state

• Published in: Reproductive, female and child health Vol. 3; no. 1
• Main Authors: Kimiecik, Clare, Maness, Sarah B., Sundstrom, Beth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Aberdeen John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-03-2024; Wiley
• Subjects: Attitudes; Birth control; College students; Communication; contraception; Demographics; Families & family life; Health insurance; Interviews; Methods; Mothers; reproductive health; Review boards; Sexual health; Social networks; Trust; Womens health
• DOI: 10.1002/rfc2.76
• EISSN: 2768-7228

Introduction
Choosing the right contraception can be a daunting process and it is important that people feel in control of their bodies during this decision‐making process.
Materials and Methods
This study investigates who college‐aged students talk to about their hormonal contraceptive choice and how that impacts their feeling of control during their decision‐making process.
Results
The study found participants spoke to a variety of sources about this decision, like their healthcare providers when they wanted a clinical point of view, their mothers when they wanted a more personal and caring point a view, their overall social networks when they wanted multiple point of views, and some participants ultimately felt the most control when just referring to themselves and their own feelings.
Conclusions
More research can be done on how specific beliefs among figures in college‐aged students' lives impact these contraceptive discussions, the choices they feel they can make, and how in control of themselves they feel.