Effect of a Brief Educational Intervention on the Attitudes of Young Women Toward the Intrauterine Device

Abstract 

Study Objective

The intrauterine device (IUD) is underused by young women, who are at high risk for unintended pregnancy. We aimed to assess the impact of a brief educational intervention on the attitudes of young women toward intrauterine contraception and to assess characteristics associated with a change in attitude.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This is a planned secondary analysis of a survey of 144 women, aged 14–24 years, which assessed attitudes toward the IUD.

Intervention

The analysis was planned to fully examine the impact of a 3-minute educational intervention about the IUD given during administration of the survey, which included risks and benefits of IUD use, costs, side effects, and a demonstration of the IUD insertion and removal process.

Main Outcome Measure

Proportions of participants with a positive attitude toward the IUD before and after the intervention were compared using McNemar's chi-square test for paired proportions. Factors associated with a change in attitude toward the IUD were evaluated using multivariable analysis.

Results

Before the educational intervention, 14.7% (21/143) had both heard of the IUD and expressed a positive attitude toward it. After the intervention, this proportion increased to 53.8% (77/143) (P < .01). The increase in proportion with a positive attitude was consistent for all subpopulations. In multivariable analysis, the only significant predictor of a positive change in attitude toward the IUD was a history of voluntary sexual activity (adjusted odds ratio 10.3, 95% confidence interval 2.0–53.1).

Conclusions

A brief educational intervention significantly improves the attitude of young sexually active women toward the IUD.

Key Words: Adolescent, Contraception, IUD (intrauterine device), Contraceptive knowledge, Contraceptive attitude, Educational intervention