Volume 30, Issue 6: December, 2003

Abstract

Exploring Contraceptive Pill Taking Among Hispanic Women in the United States

Joseph W. Brown, PhD, Antonia M. Villarruel, PhD, Deborah Oakley, PhD, and Carmen Eribes, PhD

Data from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth have previously shown greater risk of inconsistent contraceptive pill use among Hispanic women. The same data were used to test a culturally based model of inconsistent pill use among the subsample of Hispanic women. The hierarchical logit analysis showed that the odds of inconsistent use increased among women who were interviewed in Spanish, had negative attitudes about women in the workplace, had two or more recent sex partners, and were recent pill adopters. On the other hand, living alone or with a non-family member was associated with a reduced risk of inconsistent use, as was showing preference for a stay-at-home model of motherhood, frequent church attendance, and frequent sexual intercourse. Inclusion of cultural variables had two advantages: (1) It increased the overall explanatory strength of the model, and (2) it suggested that the strong effects of behavioral variables (e.g., duration of pill use, number of sex partners) are mediated by cultural indicators (e.g., Catholic identification, primary use of Spanish). These findings have implications for health educators working with Hispanic populations. Specifically, tailoring programs to the underlying cultural dimensions of health behaviors should enhance program acceptability and effectiveness.