An Australian study found that teenage contraception needs support in rural and regional areas if officials want to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy in these regions.
The study was conducted by Monash University's SPHERE Center of Research Excellence, which interviewed GPs regarding the matter. It is titled "Contraceptive Counseling in Regions of Victoria with High Incidence of Teenage Pregnancy: General Practitioners' Insights."
Addressing High Rates of Teenage Pregnancy
It sought the insights of rural GPs on the provision of contraception information to teenagers, such as their approaches to contraceptive counseling. The majority of the 18 GPs who participated in the study cited limited knowledge of and access to contraception as a likely factor in higher rates of teenage pregnancy in their regions.
They added that teens typically face obstacles because of socioeconomic status, the costs associated with some contraceptive methods, and the limited providers that are available to insert long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs).
The study also found that building rapport with teenagers, on top of having a focus on the normalization of contraceptive discussion and empowerment of teenagers to make informed contraceptive choices, can improve the situation and reduce the number of unintended teenage pregnancies, according to Medical Xpress.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Jessica Botfield, added that their finding showed GPs have an opportunity to better support teenagers in learning about contraception options. She noted that it is important to make sure teenagers feel general practice is a safe place to talk about sexual and reproductive health issues.
The study cites that normalizing contraception discussions, addressing misunderstandings among GPs regarding intrauterine device (IUD) suitability for teenagers, and increasing the number of IUD-inserting GPs are needed to support teenagers.
A Misunderstanding of Contraceptive Options
The situation comes as in Australia, one in four women have experienced an unintended pregnancy and rates are even higher in rural areas and among younger women. The authors of the study noted that some GPs who participated demonstrated a "misunderstanding" around the suitability of LARCs for teenagers, RACGP reported.
They added that it is important to consider misinformation regarding LARC held by healthcare professionals in the region. This is because they impact contraceptive counseling practices, and in turn, teenagers' contraceptive choices for themselves.
Many touted the recent study as a crucial point of direction for funding as there is a $500 million fund, announced in February, that will assist in meeting its suggested reforms. The money was pledged to help with providing greater access to LARC insertion and is expected to save roughly $400 in out-of-pocket costs for roughly 300,000 women per year, as per the Medical Republic.
