Oral contraceptive use.
OBJECTIVE
This article profiles Canadian women aged 15 to 49 who use oral contraceptives (OCs), and compares certain of their characteristics with those of non-users. It also examines associations between OC use and selected characteristics, including cardiovascular risk factors.


METHODS
The data are from the cross-sectional household component of Statistics Canada's 1996/97 National Population Health Survey. The analysis is based on a sample of 21,996 women aged 15 to 49, weighted to represent an estimated 7.6 million women.


METHODS
Cross-tabulations were used to estimate the percentage of women aged 15 to 49 who use OCs and to compare selected health behaviours of users and non-users. A multiple logistic regression model was used to model relationships between selected characteristics and OC use.


RESULTS
An estimated 1.3 million women aged 15 to 49, or 18%, reported using OCs in 1996/97. OC use was significantly associated with being young, unmarried, sexually active, and having prescription drug insurance and relatively high education. About one-third of OC users also smoked.
Wilkins
K
K
Health Statistics Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa. wilkkat@statcan.ca
Johansen
H
H
Beaudet
M P
MP
Neutel
C I
CI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral