Unsatisfied contraceptive preferences due to cost among women in the United States

Objectives

To examine prevalence and characteristics associated with cost barriers to preferred contraceptive use.

Study design

Among a nationally representative sample of women at risk of unplanned pregnancy in 2015–2017, we used Poisson regression to assess characteristics associated preferring a(nother) method in the absence of cost.

Results

Overall, 22% preferred to use a(nother) method. Women using less-effective methods, who were Black or Hispanic, ages 15–24 and had low incomes, were more likely to report cost barriers.

Conclusions

Using a preferred method is an indicator of access to care and reproductive autonomy. These results provide a benchmark to track the impact of policy changes.