Family planning attitudes of medically underserved Latinas.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the cultural and socioeconomic factors that may influence family planning decisions in Latinas attending a community health center.


METHODS
Contraceptive choices made by medically underserved Latinas attending a federally funded community health clinic were surveyed, and the societal, religious, economic, and community factors that affect their use were evaluated.


RESULTS
In a cohort of 97 Latinas, almost one third were not using birth control, and those using birth control often chose nonhormonal methods. Early pregnancy was desired by this cohort, with 72 women (84%) reporting that 25 years or younger was an ideal age for a first pregnancy; 81 women (89 %) indicated having children was an extremely important goal for them.


CONCLUSIONS
Contraceptive use was lower than the national average in this cohort of mainly Spanish-speaking Latinas, with most of the women using methods considered not as efficacious as hormonal ones. These data suggest that initial counseling for young Latinas, especially for those who may not be acclimated to U.S. culture as evidenced by their preference for counseling in Spanish, should focus on how to optimally prepare for planning and spacing of pregnancies rather than on how to prevent pregnancy. Counseling that emphasizes only birth control options and not pregnancy concerns should be employed after desired family size is reached.
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA.
Claudia P
CP
Rivera
Carol B
CB
Méndez
Ndeye-Aicha
NA
Gueye
Gloria A
GA
Bachmann
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003657:Decision Making; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008430:Maternal-Child Health Centers; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D009515:New Jersey; D012923:Social Class