title: Prescription Birth Control Access Among U.S. Women at Risk of Unintended Pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Access to contraception is a vital component of preventing unintended pregnancies. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of and factors associated with U.S. women's difficulty accessing prescription contraception (pill, patch, or ring).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a nationally representative survey of adult women at risk of unintended pregnancy (aged 18-44, not pregnant or seeking pregnancy, sexually active, not sterilized) using a probability-based web panel. In November to December 2011, 2046 women completed the survey. Weighted proportions were calculated and logistic regression was used to identify covariates associated with difficulty obtaining or refilling prescription contraception.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1385 (68%) women had ever tried to get a prescription for hormonal contraception. Among this population, 29% reported ever having problems obtaining a prescription or refills. In multivariable regression, uninsured (vs. privately insured) and Spanish-speaking (vs. English-speaking) women were significantly more likely to report difficulties; women with a high school degree and those with some college (vs. a college degree or higher) were significantly less likely to report difficulty. Difficulties included cost barriers or lack of insurance (14%), challenges obtaining an appointment or getting to a clinic (13%), the clinician requiring a clinic visit, exam, or Pap smear (13%), not having a regular doctor/clinic (10%), difficulty accessing a pharmacy (4%), and other reasons (4%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One-third of adult U.S. women who have ever tried to obtain prescription contraception reported access barriers. While the Affordable Care Act may resolve some of these issues, these data indicate that additional factors may still need to be addressed.
authors.affiliation: 1 Ibis Reproductive Health , Cambridge, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grindlay
authors.affiliation: 2 Ibis Reproductive Health , Oakland, California.|3 Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, University of California San Francisco , San Francisco, California.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grossman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services; D003267:Contraception / Q000523:psychology*; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011306:Prescription Fees; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D055553:Prescription Drugs