A COMPARATIVE-EVALUATION OF ORAL-CONTRACEPTIVE USE AND ASSOCIATED COMPLIANCE ISSUES IN A RURAL-POPULATION

One hundred thirty-three patients were enrolled in a study designed to evaluate and compare oral contraceptive use in three rural communitie s. The patients averaged 31 years old (range, 13 to 49 years); 92% wer e white, 4.5% Hispanic, and 3% Native American. Genora(R), Ortho-Novum (R), and Triphasil(R) were the most frequently prescribed oral contrac eptives. Triphasic oral contraceptives accounted for one third (n = 64 ) of 203 prescriptions, and conventional monophasic preparations accou nted for two thirds. Twenty percent (n = 26) of the patients studied w ere noncompliant. The most frequent causes of noncompliance cited were cost and inconvenience. However, generic alternatives were requested in only 43% of the cases for which generic equivalents were available. Less-expensive alternatives (eg, generic products, medroxyprogesteron e acetate injection) should be advocated to deter patient noncomplianc e because of cost issues. Drug interactions and adverse effects were n ot reported in our patient population and thus did not contribute to n oncompliance.