Contraceptive use and childbirth rates by service branch during the first 24 months on active duty in the United States military from 2013 to 2018: a retrospective cohort analysis.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-2019
Identifier
DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2019.04.002
Abstract
Objective: To measure the association of military branch-specific contraceptive education and access policy during basic training with contraceptive use and childbirth among new recruits.
Study design: Secondary analysis of insurance records from 92,072 active duty servicewomen who started basic training between 2013 and 2017.
Results: Exposure to reproductive health education and access to contraception during basic training differ by military branch. Highly effective contraception use (pills, patch, ring, shot, implants or intrauterine contraception) at 6 months on active duty [Army (18.1%), Air Force (27.4%), Marines (26.5%) and Navy (37.6%), p
Conclusion: Variation in branch-specific contraceptive education and access policy during basic training is associated with differences in rates of contraceptive use at 6 months on active duty and childbirth prior to 24 months on active duty. This occurs despite all recruits having access to an identical medical benefit including no-cost access to contraception after completing initial training. Further study is needed to determine the etiology of these differences.
Implications: Guidelines for contraceptive education and access during basic training, highly effective contraception use after 6 months of service and childbirth in the first 24 months of service vary among branches of the United States military. Reducing this variability may reduce childbirth rates and improve the reproductive health of junior enlisted servicewomen.
Journal Title
Contraception
Volume
100
Issue
2
First Page
147
Last Page
151
MeSH Keywords
Adolescent; Adult; Birth Rate; Contraception; Contraception Behavior; Female; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Military Personnel; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Unplanned; Proportional Hazards Models; Reproductive Health; Retrospective Studies; Time Factors; United States; Young Adult
Keywords
Contraception; Female; Military personnel; Pregnancy
Recommended Citation
Roberts TA, Smalley JM, Weir LF, Adelman WP. Contraceptive use and childbirth rates by service branch during the first 24 months on active duty in the United States military from 2013 to 2018: a retrospective cohort analysis. Contraception. 2019;100(2):147-151. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2019.04.002
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