Contraceptive values and preferences of adolescents and young adults: A systematic review

• Published in: Contraception (Stoneham) 2022-07, Vol.111, p.22-31
• Main Authors: Ti, Angeline, Soin, Komal, Rahman, Tasfia, Dam, Anita, Yeh, Ping T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Contraception; Family planning; Preference; Value
• ISSN: 0010-7824; 1879-0518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2021.05.018

We sought to systematically review the literature on values and preferences for contraception among adolescents and young adults globally. We searched ten electronic databases for articles from January 1, 2005 through July 27, 2020 regarding end-users' values and preferences for contraception. We included studies that report specifically on people up to 25 years old. Fifty-five studies out of 7,846 met our inclusion criteria. These studies included participants aged 10-25 years and were conducted in 16 countries. Through open coding, we identified 18 content areas. The five most commonly discussed content areas were: (1) general preferences regarding contraception, (2) contraceptive method benefits, (3) contraceptive method drawbacks, (4) the influence of the social context, and (5) the influence of myths and misconceptions, including safety and side effects, on contraceptive choice. Privacy and autonomy were important overarching themes, along with safety of the method. These considerations affected participants’ access to and use of contraception. Various social, cultural, and method-specific factors influence a young person's values and preferences around contraceptive methods. Understanding their values and preferences can help providers and programs improve contraceptive care for young people.