Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114512

Isabel Cristina Garces, MPH, Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 631 Medical Towers, 1717 11th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205, 205 975 7615, isabelg@uab.edu and Isabel C. Scarinci, PhD, MPH, Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MT 609, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294.

This study examined: (1) whether there were differences in contraceptive use between low-income Latina immigrants and low-income non-Latinas; (2) ethnic differences regarding reproductive health and contraceptive use knowledge; and (3) which demographic factors were associated with contraceptive use among low-income Latina immigrants. Participants included 238 low-income women between the ages of 17 and 43 (X=26), attending a WIC clinic. Approximately half of the sample were Latinas (52.3%) and 47.3% were non-Latinas (33.9% African Americans, 9.2% Whites, and 4.6% other). Latinas reported significantly less number of years of schooling, were less likely to have health insurance, and more likely to be married or living with a partner than non-Latinas (p's<.05). Latinas had less knowledge regarding reproductive health and contraceptive use (p's <.05) than non-Latinas. Contraceptive use was significantly lower among Latinas than non-Latinas (48.8% vs. 77.9%, p<.0001). The main reasons for not using contraceptives among Latinas were that they were currently pregnant (17%), just had a baby (14%), did not have a partner (11%), and partner's opposition (9.4%). Among non-Latinas the main reasons were desire of pregnancy (21%), did not have a partner (21%), currently pregnant (16.6%), and side-effects (16.6%). Among Latinas, women living with a partner but not married were less likely to use contraceptive methods than married women (69.2% vs. 44.7%, p=.007). Latinas were less likely to use the pill (11.3% vs. 30.7%, p<.0001), and to have had tubal ligation (3.2% vs. 15.8%, p=.001) than non-Latinas. Research and clinical implications of these findings will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Assess ethnic differences regarding reproductive health and contraceptive use knowledge among low-income Latina immigrants and low-income non-Latinas.
• Analyze demographic factors associated with contraceptive use among low-income Latina immigrants.

Keywords: Immigrant Women, Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.