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Eboni S. Austin
Ms. McArthur
Abstract
Sexual activity is becoming essential in most relationships. Some relationships are not
monogamous, therefore is it important for both partners to protect themselves. There are several
contraceptive methods that could be used, such as the male and female condom, birth control
pill, IDU, the patch, Depo-Provera, diaphragm, female/male sterilization and withdrawal. The
particular method is used to prevent the risk of pregnancies or the risk of acquiring a sexually
transmitted infection. Women from various backgrounds were used to compile the data. The
different factors consist of race, marital status, education, health insurance, age and specific
location. The time span of the study was 1982-2002. The percentages of women that use a
Figure 1: Magnitude
Figure 1:
Percent of Women who do and do not use Contraception
64.6%
70 59%
57.6%
60
50 42.4% 41%
Percentage
35.4%
40
30
20
10
Use Contraception
0
Hispanic African American White Do not use
Contraception
Race
The graph above display percentages of women in the United States, from different races,
that are using contraception and those who are not. Table 97 (Census Bureau) reported the
response of 61,561 women in 2002. Out of this number only 61.9% uses contraception and
38.1% does not use contraception. Among the women who are having sex, Figure 1 shows that
there are 64.6 % White, 57.6% Black and 59.0% Hispanic women using contraception. The blue
bars indicate the women who are not using contraception. There are 35.4% Hispanics, 42.4%
African American and 41% White women who are putting themselves in risk of several
consequences.
Hispanics are the ethnic group who has the highest rate of using contraception. From
personal observations, I would have not believed this data before. African Americans are those
who have higher rates for HIV/AIDS cases. The 42.4% of those who do not use contraception
are risking being another statistic. The data provided for the White women are surprising because
I would have believe they would have a higher rate of women to use contraception. Although
everyone is placed in various risk categories if they do not use protect, African Americans are
the ones that is widely discussed. Every woman should protect herself from potential dangers.
Contraceptive Use 4
Figure 2: Magnitude
Figure 2:
Number of Intented and Unintended Pregnancies
120
101 98
100
Number of Pregnancies
82
78 78
(numbers in 000s)
80 67
60 52 53
45 43 Hispanic
37 35
40 African American
White
20
0
1994-Intended 1994-Unintended 2001-Intended 2001-Unintended
Year/Pregnancy type
One risk that a woman faces because of her negligence of using contraception is
pregnancy, whether it was intended or not. The number of intended pregnancies was 56 in 1994
and 53 in 2001. The number of unintended pregnancies was 51 in 1994 and 2001. In Figure 2,
101,000 of African American women had unintended pregnancies in 1994. It slightly decreased
in 2001 to 98,000. 45,000 of African American women had intended pregnancies in 1994 and
43,000 in 2001. White women had the lowest number of unintended pregnancies in 2001. The
Taking a test and discovering that you are pregnant could be an awful feeling. The
numbers of unintended pregnancies were awfully high in 2001 with African American.
Compared to 1994, African Americans had the lowest numbers of unintended pregnancies out of
the three races. I believe this may have been due to government changes or more awareness of
pregnancies and STDs. I believe the society was going through changes in 2001 and some people
may have not received the knowledge as those seven years prior.
Contraceptive Use 5
Figure 3: Scope
Figure 3:
Percent of Women in Alabama who are at Risk of Pregnancy
45%
(71.2)
55%
(87.6)
The Center for Disease Control reported the prevalence of contraceptive use among
women in various states. Since we are in Alabama, I chose to focus on the data for the state. The
sample size used in Alabama was 936,000. Out of the sample size of Alabama, 71.2% of the
women were at risk for pregnancy. 87.6% of the women who used contraception were also at a
risk.
I think it is very odd that the women that use contraception were at a higher risk in
becoming pregnant. It may be assumed that these women are using the contraception
ineffectively. Those who are at risk may not use contraception. They may be unaware of the risk,
do not think they can become pregnant or the may not care about being pregnant. Additionally,
women in Alabama, as well as women in other states, should be aware that no birth control is
Figure 4: Scope
Figure 4:
Percent of Women in Alabama who do and do not have Health Insurance and
uses Condom
65%
(29.1) 35%
(15.8)
Health insurance can be a deciding factor in which contraceptive method a woman will
use. In the graph above, the population of Alabama women is shown and it separates those with
health insurance and the ones without it. 13.1% of insured women used condoms, while 25.4%
of uninsured women used condoms. The women with insurance may have chosen an alternative
contraceptive method that was paid for by their health care provider. On the other hand, the
Health insurance is vital. Some women use their insurance to buy the contraceptive
method that works best for them. However, what if a woman does not have insurance? Most
women without health insurance use condoms since they do not require a prescription. Condoms
can be bought from local stores or they can be given for free at clinics. Medicaid is given to
pregnant women, therefore it would be too late to give it to a woman who is in a situation they
tried to prevent.
Contraceptive Use 7
Figure 5: Changes
Figure 5:
Changes in Women using Contraceptive Methods: 1982-2002
70 64.2%
60.3% 61.9%
60 55.7%
50
38.1%
Percentage
40
30
20
7.4% 6.7%
10 5.2%
0
1982 1988 1995 2002 Using a Method
Year Not Using a Method
The number of women who use contraception has changed over the years. In Figure 5,
the percentage of women who used a method was 55.7% in 1982. In 1988, the percentage was
60.3%. The highest percentage of contraceptive use in women was 64% in 1995. In 2002, the
rate declined to 61.9%. The percentages of women that did not use a method gradually decrease
over time until 2002. The lowest rate was in 1995 at 5.2%
Many factors could have contributed to why the rate of women not using contraception
rose in 2002. Some women or men may have chosen to get sterilized and not use contraception
because of that reason. This method ensures individuals that the will not get pregnant, however,
there are some slim cases that could occur. Others may have been ready to start their family.
Finally, there may have been a small few who just simply did not want to use contraception.
Contraceptive Use 8
Figure 6: Changes
Figure 6:
African American Women using or not using Contraception
Using a Method
70 62.1% Not Using a Method
56.8% 57.6%
60 51.6%
50 42.4%
percentage
40
30
20 13.6%
10.3%
7%
10
0
1982 1988 1995 2002
Year
The percentage of African Americans who used contraception was 51.6% in 1982, 56.8%
in 1982 and 62.1% in 1995. It could have been assumed that the rate would continue to increase,
however, in 2002 the percentage declined to 57.6%. Figure 6 also displays the changes in those
women who were sexually active and not using a method. In 1982, 13.6% of African Americans
did not use contraception. This rate was followed by a decrease to 10.3% in 1988 and 7.0% in
1995. The rate in 2002 had a dramatic increase to 42.4% of African Americans who do not use
contraception
The rates of African Americans using contraception could be higher than the average of
60%. For the rest of the African American women who are not using contraception, they are in
danger of catching a STI or becoming pregnant. In 2002, married African Americans were
starting a family where among those who did not use a contraceptive method. I strongly believe
that if married women were to be removed from the group, then the percentage would be lower
Figure 7: Changes
Figure 7:
Marital Status Among African American
Women who use Condoms
28%
30
25
20
Percentage
0
1982 1988 1995
Year
The use of condoms was low among the different marital status in the year between 1982
and 1995. In 1982, 7% of currently married, African American women used condoms. Among
the women who have never been married, 8% used condoms. In that same year, only 2% of
formerly married women used condoms. In 1988, the numbers increased slightly by 3%, 5% and
2%. In 1995, 28% of women who have never been married used condoms. Formerly married
all. These women may have been career oriented women who were not ready to make a family at
that time. These women could have also been newlyweds who also wanted to wait for a family.
Never married women may have used another method besides condoms to ensure that they
would not become pregnant because they were not in a permanent relationship. Formerly married
women may have been older, therefore, they may be incapable of becoming pregnant.
Contraceptive Use 10
Figure 8: Disparities
Figure 8:
Education Level of African American Women who use Condoms
25 22%
20 17%
14%
Percentage
15 12%
10 7%
6% 6%
4%
5 Less than or equal to 11 Years
0% 12 years
0 Greater than or equal to 13 years
1982 1988 1995
Year
The education level of women who use condoms are shown in Figure 8. In 1982, only 4%
of low educated women used condoms and in 1995, only 14% used them. In 1988, the rate of
condom using women with eleven years of less of education was 0%. On the other hand, females
with thirteen years or more education, in 1995, 22% used condoms. This was an increase from
the 6% using condoms in 1982. Among the women with twelve years of education, 6% used
condoms in 1982, 7% in 1988 and an increase to 17% in 1995. Education plays a role in which
Sex education should be a subject taught in schools. The students would be able to go to
were to drop out of school, then they would not be able to receive this valuable piece of
information. Most people would use condoms because they are common and easily accessed.
The women with the low education levels may not be informed about safe sex and they may not
use contraception at all. The rate of condom use amongst them rose to 14% in 1995. These
Figure 9: Disparities
Figure 9:
Age Groups of Women Using Contraception
80 69.2% 71.4%
68%72.8% 70.2%73.1% 66%
65.9% 61.2%
59% 64.5% 67.6% 61.9%
60 55.8% 63.5%
Percentage
40 32.1% 1982
29.8%
24.2% 1988
20
1995
0
15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44
Age Group
Figure 9 display the percentage of women of different age groups who are using
contraception. In 1982, 24.2% of 15-19, 55.8% of 20-24, 65.9% of 25-29, 67.6% of 30-34,
61.9% of 35-39 and 61.2% of 40-44 age women all used condoms. The percentages of condom
use were high among those women over the age of twenty-five. In 1995, those women had
percentage over 70% for using condoms, compared to the 15-19 year old women who had 29.8%
in 1995.
Women of various ages are having sex. Children at the age of fifteen are having sex and
some of them are not informed about safe sex. Figure 9 shows the data of women in the age
group of 15-19 had the lowest rate of using contraception over the years. This may be because
they are afraid of telling their parents that they are having sex. They may not be aware of the
resources around them. The other age groups seem to be aware of the consequences of not using
contraception. The age of women between thirty and forty-four may have been working women
who did not want to put their careers on the line. They may have a family already and feel that
they are too old to have children. These women seem more responsible compared to the women
Figure 10:
Income Levels of African American Women who use Condoms
25 22%
19%
20
15%
Percentage
15 13%
Income<149%
9%
10 8% Income 150-299%
7%
6%
5% Income >300%
5
0
1982 1988 1995
Year
Income level also played a factor in the contraception usage during 1982-1995. In Figure
10, the African American women who were 149% or less of the federal poverty level, 5% of
them used condoms in 1982, 9% in 1988 and 15% in 1995. For those individuals who were
between 150-299% of the federal poverty level, 6% in 1982 used condoms, following by 8% in
1988 and 22% in 1995. The women in the 300% or more federal poverty level had a rate of 7%
using condoms in 1982, 13% in 1988 and 19% in 1995. Despite the poverty level the women fell
in, majority of the African American women used the pill with an average rate of 40%.
African Americans with higher incomes have a better chance in purchasing condoms.
They may have a stable job in order to get it, whereas, the women who fell in the poverty level of
149% or less, may not have extra funds or any funds at all to buy condoms. This may be a fact,
however, condoms are sometimes given out for free at clinics. Therefore, it is not reason for
anyone to not use condoms, at least. The income level may relate with the low education level;
Summary:
who are misinformed about having safe sex. They may not receive this information at
home and it is a slight probability that it is not taught at school. Therefore, women go into
a relationship not knowing the risks of having unprotected sex. This could lead to an
increase of pregnancy rates or even the possibility of catching a STI. For those
individuals who are lucky to know about the several methods of prevent birth control and
the risk of getting a STI, they are less likely to undergo the stress of that situation.
The ages of women having sex are changing as well. There are teenagers who are
not using contraception. They may not want their parents to know and may have sex with
a male that in experienced. The experienced partner may talk the female out of using a
contraceptive method. For those females who are older, they are more responsible and
therefore have higher rates of using a condom. Over the years, these findings have
increased to percentages over 70%, however females 15-19 years of age grew to only
24%.
Women with lower income and education also had low percentages of using
contraception. It could be assumed that these individuals do not have the funds to buy
contraception or they may not know about it. Also, they may not have health insurance to
Women with different marital statuses also used contraception. Women who were
married still used contraception, especially condoms. There were a low number of
women who were formerly married who used condoms. These findings can have many
themselves.
Contraceptive Use 14
Conclusion:
There is a rise in women in the United States that are having sex. For those who are choosing to
have sex, they use some form of contraceptive method. The graphs have been created to provide
numerical representation of those methods that the women are using. It also provides the race
and the martial status of the women. Additional tables provides data for women of various ages,
income and education level. The particular method is used to prevent the risk of pregnancies and
or the risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection. African American women are prong to
these situations. With proper education about safe sex, the prevention of pregnancies and STI
References
Center for Disease Control. November 18, 2005. “Prevalence of contraceptive use among
(http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5406a1.htm)
Center for Disease Control. November 18, 2005. “Prevalence of use of a specific birth
control method among persons of reproductive age, (Table) 4. By sex and selected
(http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5406a1.htm)
Finer, L., & Henshaw, S. (2006). Disparities in Rates of Unintended Pregnancy in the United
States, 1994 and 2001. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 38(2), 93.
Piccinino, L., & Mosher, W. (1998). Trends in Contraceptive Use in the United States: 1
http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3000498.pdf
Piccinino, L., & Mosher, W. (1998). Trends in Contraceptive Use in the United States: 1
http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3000498.pdf
U.S. Census Bureau “Current Contraceptive Use by Women by Race and Martial Status:
(http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2010/tables/10s0097.pdf)