Identifying a Golden Opportunity: Adolescent Interest in Contraceptive Initiation in a Pediatric Emergency Department

Abstract

Objectives:

Contraception use reduces teen pregnancy, and long-acting reversible contraception is recommended as first-line treatment. Since many adolescents use the emergency department (ED) as a primary source of health care, it is a potential site of contraceptive counseling and provision. We surveyed female adolescents to assess desire for contraceptive counseling and initiation/change during an ED visit.

Materials and Methods:

This was a cross sectional study of a convenience sample of female ED patients aged 16–21 years in an urban pediatric ED. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire about sexual health, contraceptive use, and interest in contraceptive counseling. The primary outcome was adolescent interest in starting/changing contraception during an ED visit.

Results:

Three hundred eighty-one patients (mean age 19.1 ± 1.6 years) completed the survey. Most (80.5%) had been sexually active with a male partner, and 110 (28.2%) had previously been pregnant. Two-thirds were interested in discussing contraception and 22.5% were likely to start or change contraception during the ED visit. Those who wanted to start or change contraception were more likely to be sexually active with a male partner (93% vs. 82%, p = 0.02) and to report that they were not satisfied with their current contraception (44% vs. 21%, p = 0.0003). Fifteen (17%) of the adolescents likely to start or change contraception were interested in progestin implant initiation in the ED.

Conclusions:

Adolescents were interested in initiating or changing contraception during the ED visit, providing an important opportunity to discuss and initiate effective contraception.