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Background <p>Despite medical advances and widespread use, approximately 1 in 4 current and prospective female contraceptive users in the United States do not access their preferred method of contraception. Understanding how to address cultural barriers to contraceptives is critical to improving access. This study investigated how different aspects of cultural background influence contraceptive perceptions and experiences. We explored this question with an intersectional lens, recruiting participants with a range of multicultural identities.</p> Methods <p>Between 2023 and 2024, we conducted 32 in-depth interviews with a diverse sample of pregnancy-capable people around the puget sound in Washington, asking how culture influences attitudes and decisions regarding birth control. Codes were created inductively from interview transcripts and were grouped by definitional similarities and co-occurrences with each other. The research team identified themes that represented the overarching influences of cultural norms and experiences on birth control perceptions and use.</p> Results <p>From analysis of 32 in-depth interviews, our analysis revealed four main themes: (1) Cultural Birth Control Stigma Spread Through Gossip, Misinformation, and Silence; (2) Expectations from Family and Gendered Norms Hinder Preferred Birth Control Use; (3) Autonomy, Access to Culturally Competent Providers, and Access to Comprehensive Information Facilitate Positive Perceptions of Birth Control; (4) Desire for Birth Control Accessibility, Comprehensive Education, Decreased Stigma, and Shared Contraceptive Responsibility.</p> Conclusion <p>A diverse group of participants reported nuanced themes of cultural birth control stigma and familial and gendered expectations as barriers to positive birth control perceptions and use, while values of autonomy, culturally understanding healthcare providers, and comprehensive education facilitated positive birth control perceptions. To address unique patient needs, providers should acknowledge perceptions of stigma, address patient and familial knowledge gaps through tailored contraceptive counseling, and prioritize full transparency on benefits and side effects. Providers must recognize patients’ individual experiences and consider culture as a nuanced and complex influence.</p>

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“I am the expert of my own self, and this is what I choose”: a qualitative investigation of diverse cultural experiences with birth control

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月31日

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  • Gabriel M. Eligado,
  • Aliyah Cleveland,
  • Emily G. Ramirez,
  • Ritika Kolan,
  • Sabrina Madison,
  • Laila Becker Golde,
  • Madeleine R. Bell,
  • Astha Mishra,
  • Lou Chow,
  • Solana Gonzalez,
  • Cecilia Sbai,
  • Nede A. Ovbiebo,
  • Brynne A. Harris,
  • Natasja Hinrichsen,
  • Suzanne E. Callis,
  • Siyu Chen,
  • Jonathan W. Kanter,
  • K E. Manbeck

摘要

Background

Despite medical advances and widespread use, approximately 1 in 4 current and prospective female contraceptive users in the United States do not access their preferred method of contraception. Understanding how to address cultural barriers to contraceptives is critical to improving access. This study investigated how different aspects of cultural background influence contraceptive perceptions and experiences. We explored this question with an intersectional lens, recruiting participants with a range of multicultural identities.

Methods

Between 2023 and 2024, we conducted 32 in-depth interviews with a diverse sample of pregnancy-capable people around the puget sound in Washington, asking how culture influences attitudes and decisions regarding birth control. Codes were created inductively from interview transcripts and were grouped by definitional similarities and co-occurrences with each other. The research team identified themes that represented the overarching influences of cultural norms and experiences on birth control perceptions and use.

Results

From analysis of 32 in-depth interviews, our analysis revealed four main themes: (1) Cultural Birth Control Stigma Spread Through Gossip, Misinformation, and Silence; (2) Expectations from Family and Gendered Norms Hinder Preferred Birth Control Use; (3) Autonomy, Access to Culturally Competent Providers, and Access to Comprehensive Information Facilitate Positive Perceptions of Birth Control; (4) Desire for Birth Control Accessibility, Comprehensive Education, Decreased Stigma, and Shared Contraceptive Responsibility.

Conclusion

A diverse group of participants reported nuanced themes of cultural birth control stigma and familial and gendered expectations as barriers to positive birth control perceptions and use, while values of autonomy, culturally understanding healthcare providers, and comprehensive education facilitated positive birth control perceptions. To address unique patient needs, providers should acknowledge perceptions of stigma, address patient and familial knowledge gaps through tailored contraceptive counseling, and prioritize full transparency on benefits and side effects. Providers must recognize patients’ individual experiences and consider culture as a nuanced and complex influence.