WOMENS CONTRACEPTIVE ATTITUDES AND USE IN 1992

Women aged 15-44 rate the pill, the condom, vasectomy and female steri lization most highly, according to 1992 data from an annual survey by Ortho Pharmaceutical Corporation of contraceptive attitudes and method use. The 6,955 survey respondents underrepresent women who are black or who have household annual incomes greater than $50,000, but they ar e similar to all American women in age, marital status and region of t he country. About 74-84% of women giving an opinion view these methods favorably and 64% rate the hormonal implant favorably. The proportion of unmarried women who had had intercourse increased from 76% in 1987 to 86% in 1992. As a result, proportions of women at risk of unintend ed pregnancy rose from 72% to 77%. Contraceptive use also rose, from 9 2% to 94%. The most commonly used method is the pill (39%), followed b y the condom (25%), female sterilization (19%) and vasectomy (12%). Ma rried women exposed to the risk of unintended pregnancy are more likel y to use sterilization (48%), while unmarried women are more likely to use the pill (52%) and the condom (33%). Pill use has increased since 1987, especially among married women, and condom use has increased am ong all women. Among unmarried women at risk of unintended pregnancy, condom use rose from 18% in 1987 to 33% in 1992. Among condom users, 4 0% of unmarried users and 13% of married users also use another method .