A systematic review of research on young women’s uptake, choice, and discontinuation of contraceptives: descriptive mapping

L. Williamson, G. Hart, M. Petticrew

MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow, UK

Objectives: Improving the reproductive health of sexually active young women requires access to and appropriate use of safe and effective methods of fertility control. The aim of this review is to produce a synthesis of research evidence on the factors related to the uptake, choice, and discontinuation of contraceptives among young women.

Design & Methods: A systematic review was carried out to synthesise evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to increase contraceptive use, and young women’s own views about contraceptive uptake, choice and discontinuation. Data from systematic reviews, outcome evaluations, and non-intervention research, including quantitative cross-sectional studies, longitudinal studies and qualitative studies are included. In the descriptive mapping stage relevant research from 1970–2003 will be identified and described. Twenty-two electronic bibliographic databases, 7 key journals, and the citations of relevant papers were searched.

Results: 16041 potentially relevant papers were identified and screened for retrieval. Of these, 11048 were excluded due to irrelevant focus, topic, population or study type. Further screening is currently underway. The mapping process allows the range of research relevant to the topic area to be described using broad classification terms: study type, country range, populations, study focus and investigated factors, research designs and methodological attributes. Studies will be classified according to the research design used, and the inclusion or exclusion of key methodological information, for example, the presence and comparability of control groups, the reporting of sample size, sample demographics, response rates, and characteristics of non-responders. The psychological, physical, family, interpersonal and socio-cultural factors affecting the uptake, choice and discontinuation of contraceptive methods among young women, and what they think should be done to increase contraceptive use and reduce discontinuation will be identified. The factors interventions have addressed will be identified and interventions that have been effective in increasing contraceptive use and reducing discontinuation will be highlighted. The process and the results of the descriptive mapping will be presented, demonstrating the range, nature and content of the reviewed research.

Conclusions: The descriptive mapping stage of the systematic review will provide a comprehensive guide to the literature in the field, ensures the inclusion of a wide range of research and allows gaps in intervention studies to be identified. This will provide researchers, policy-makers and practitioners with a comprehensive guide to the evidence to aid the future development of research, policy and practice, and of more effective interventions.