Contraceptive dispensing and selection in school-based health centers.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether initiation of on-site dispensing of hormonal contraceptives (oral contraceptive pill, Depo-provera, and Norplant) in six urban school-based health centers reduced time to initial selection, and increased their consistent use among sexually active females.


METHODS
Participants were sexually active females who received family planning care in a school year before (1994-1995 cohort) or after (1996-1997 cohort) the initiation of on-site dispensing. Data on contraception and sexual behavior were collected at each family planning visit. Cohorts were compared using Student's t-tests and Chi-square tests, analysis of covariance, and logistic regression.


RESULTS
About 59% of the 1994-1995 cohort selected hormonal contraceptives at the first or second visit; this increased to 72% of the 1996-1997 cohort (chi(2) = 11.3; p <.001). After adjustment for cohort differences, the 1996-1997 cohort consistently selected hormonal contraceptives a longer period of time, although the difference did not reach statistical significance (adjusted means: 1994-1995 cohort = 73 days, 1996-1997 cohort = 81 days; t = 1.6, p <.10).


CONCLUSIONS
Sexually active females receiving family planning care select methods of hormonal contraception sooner and somewhat more consistently when the clinics in their high schools can dispense contraceptives on-site.
Zimmer-Gembeck
M J
MJ
Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA. zimm0225@tc.umn.edu
Doyle
L S
LS
Daniels
J A
JA
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D016912:Levonorgestrel / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010349:Patient Compliance; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D016912:Levonorgestrel; D017258:Medroxyprogesterone Acetate