title: Differences in contraceptive use between Spanish female healthcare providers and Spanish women in the general population aged 23 to 49 years: the HABITS Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the contraceptive modalities used in the general female population with those of female healthcare providers (HCPs) in Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationwide survey of a representative sample of Spanish women and female Spanish HCPs aged 23 to 49 years (total sample size: 3200).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The condom was the most widely used contraceptive method in both groups (30% and 23% in the general population and among HCPs, respectively). The reasons cited for relying on this method were ease of use (19% and 13%, respectively; p = 0.2), effectiveness (16% and 22%, respectively; p = 0.2), absence of side effects (14% and 22%, respectively; p = 0.1), and fear of side effects associated with oral contraception (13% and 2%, respectively; p < 0.0001). After the condom, oral contraceptives, the intrauterine device and the vaginal ring were the most widely used methods among HCPs (13% each).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The spectrum of contraceptive methods used by female HCPs differs from that of women in the general Spanish population. HCPs opt more often for long-acting reversible contraceptives because of their effectiveness and safety whereas women in the general population rely more frequently on the condom and surgical methods.
authors.affiliation: * Servicio de Ginecología, Hospital Universitario Araba, Vitoria, & Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del País Vasco , Vitoria , Spain.
authors.forename: Iñaki
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lete
authors.forename: Ezequiel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pérez-Campos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019111:Single-Use Internal Condom / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007434:Intrauterine Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral
keywords: Contraceptive use; Epidemiology; Healthcare providers; Long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC); Spain; Survey