Prevalence of contraceptive use in New Zealand women.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of contraceptive use among New Zealand women and to measure changes in contraceptive use since the last population-based prevalence estimates were published in 1988.


METHODS
Nine hundred and four women, aged 35-69 years were randomly selected from the electoral roll. A postal questionnaire was used to gather information on contraceptive use, socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors for ovarian cancer. Data were collected in 2013-2015. Estimates of current and ever-use of contraceptives were made and compared with the findings of the 1988 study by Paul et al. In both studies, participants were members of the control arm of case-control studies.


RESULTS
The study by Paul et al had a response proportion of 84%, whereas that of the current study was 47%. Oral contraceptives had the highest prevalence of ever-use among women aged 35-69 years (89% [347/389]), followed by condom use (54% [211/389]) and vasectomy (44% [170/389]). Compared to the previous study, there has been an increase in ever-use of condoms (24% [185/767] to 64% [148/231]), vasectomy (26% [202/767] to 40% [92/231]) and oral contraceptives (75% [575/767] to 89% [205/231]) among women aged 35-54 years. In contrast, a lower prevalence of tubal ligation (22% [168/767] to 8% [19/231]) was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrates a change in patterns of contraceptive use among women aged 35-54 years. The prevalence of ever-use of oral contraceptives and vasectomy remains high in New Zealand compared with other countries.
School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch.
Jacqueline
J
Chesang
School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch.
Ann
A
Richardson
School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch; Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin.
John
J
Potter
Health and Human Development, University of Canterbury, Christchurch.
Pat
P
Coope
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003267:Contraception / Q000145:classification*; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000069216:Contraceptive Prevalence Surveys; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D013246:Sterilization, Tubal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014659:Vasectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral