Contraceptive use by diabetic and obese women.
OBJECTIVE
Women with chronic medical conditions are at increased risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, yet contraceptive use by these women has not been well described. The purpose of this study was to describe contraceptive use by diabetic and overweight/obese women compared with women without these conditions.


METHODS
Using cross-sectional data from the 11 states participating in the optional Family Planning Module of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 2000, we analyzed contraceptive use among 7,943 sexually active women of reproductive age (18-44) who were not trying to conceive. Using logistic regression techniques, we modeled the effect of diabetes and overweight/obesity on contraceptive nonuse, controlling for age, race/ethnicity, marital status, education, income, and health insurance coverage.


RESULTS
Contraceptive nonuse was reported by 1,500 (18.9%) of the total sample, 31 (25.8%) diabetic women, 371 (20.0%) overweight women, and 385 (23.4%) obese women. In the multivariable model, obesity was significantly associated with contraceptive nonuse (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-1.55), but there were no significant differences in contraceptive nonuse for diabetic women (adjusted OR 1.23, 95% CI 0.80-1.87) or overweight women (adjusted OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.99-1.31). Older, Black, Hispanic, married, less educated, and women without health insurance were more likely to report contraceptive nonuse.


CONCLUSIONS
Among women with need for contraception, obese women were more likely to report contraceptive nonuse than normal weight women. Because women with chronic conditions like obesity are at higher risk of pregnancy-related complications and adverse pregnancy outcomes, proper contraceptive use and unintended pregnancy avoidance is a priority.
Chuang
Cynthia H
CH
Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA. cchuang@psu.edu
Chase
Gary A
GA
Bensyl
Diana M
DM
Weisman
Carol S
CS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003274:Contraceptive Devices, Female / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female