Use of Contraception Among Hispanic Women and Men: A Qualitative Study

Nationally, low-income women of Hispanic ethnicity have a significantly higher rate of unintended pregnancy than their White counterparts. This disparity leads to an increased risk for poor maternal and child outcomes that have long and short-term sequelae for health and well-being. A quantitative report in Washtenaw County, Michigan in 2017 found that both men and women were at high risk for unintended pregnancy with many women reporting no contraception use, despite not desiring a pregnancy. We used semistructured interviews to assess the opinions and experiences regarding the use of contraception among 21 Hispanic women and men of reproductive age in a Midwestern county. Our study found that the use of contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancy was important to our sample of Hispanic women and men. However, concerns about side effects, limited knowledge on reproductive health, the influence of partners, and financial barriers played a role in the use of contraception. Our findings provide insight into the influences and barriers to contraception use among Hispanic women and men and can inform future research.