Disturbingly low levels of contraception among women living with hepatitis C

• Published in: Australian and New Zealand journal of public health 2003-12, Vol.27 (6), p.620-626
• Main Authors: Banwell, Cathy, Bammer, Gabriele, Main, Nikki, Gifford, Sandra M., O'Brien, Mary
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Adolescent; Adult; AIDS; Alcohol; Australia - epidemiology; Birth control; Chi-Square Distribution; Contraception; Contraception - statistics & numerical data; Contraceptives; Drug abuse; Epidemiology; Female; Health Status; Health Surveys; Hepatitis; Hepatitis C; Hepatitis C - epidemiology; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatology; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infections; Logistic Models; Middle Aged; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - psychology; Questionnaires; Reproductive health; Sexual health; Sexual Partners; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social Support; Socioeconomic Factors; STD; Substance abuse treatment; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Trends; Well being; Women; Womens health
• ISSN: 1326-0200; 1753-6405
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-842X.2003.tb00609.x

Objective: To describe the prevalence of contraception among a sample of women with hepatitis C (HCV), compare it with contraceptive use among Australian women generally, and look for associations between contraception and sample characteristics. Method: Women who self‐identified as living with HCV were recruited through a wide range of non‐clinical and clinical sites in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Victoria to complete a self‐administered questionnaire. Results: Seventy‐five per cent of distributed questionnaires were completed and returned. Of the 462 women surveyed, 34% of those aged 18–49 reported using contraceptives; a much lower prevalence than the 67% in the Australian population. Surprisingly, w omen who reported concerns about transmission to children were no more likely to use contraceptives. Not surprisingly, women who were lesbian or who did not have a current partner were even less likely to use contraceptives. Both employed women and those not on benefits reported significantly higher levels of contraception. Otherwise, contraception did not vary with a range of variables including age, education, injecting drug use status, self‐rated health status, experience of HCV symptoms, time since diagnosis, ever having received HCV treatment, or venue at which the participants were recruited. Conclusions: The low prevalence of contraception among women with HCV is both disturbing and puzzling. Implications: These findings raise several important and hitherto unconsidered issues for the sexual and reproductive health and well‐being of women with HCV. These require both fur ther research and urgent attention by service providers.