To assess the effect of oral contraceptives on antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), rheumatoid factor (RF), and C-reactive protein (CRP), 3 groups of women were studied: 1) 174 women (ages 16-47) from the time of their initial uses of oral contraceptives, 2) 119 women (ages 17-39) selected from the community at random, and 3) 210 women (ages 17-47) who had been taking oral contraceptives prior to an...

Main aim of this study is to quantify and analyze the utilization and utilization trends of oral hormonal contraceptives in the City of Zagreb, 2008-2010, and to propose potential interventions, if necessary. Data gathered from Zagreb pharmacies were assessed by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification of drugs and Daily Defined Dose methodology. An alarming decrease in total utilization ...

This study investigates the interaction of the use of modern contraceptives, fertility, education, and long-run growth. It develops an economic model that takes into account that sexual intercourse is utility enhancing and that birth control by modern contraceptives is more efficient and more costly than traditional methods. The study shows how a traditional economy, in which modern contracepti...

A cross sectional, community-based, descriptive study among women of reproductive age group (15-49 years) in Nigeria to explore the possible reasons for contraceptive non-use despite reported high awareness was carried out. Data were obtained using a standard questionnaire instrument and applied on 2001 respondents. Contraceptive prevalence among sexually active respondents was 14.8% for all me...

Addressing the issue of unintended pregnancy is a national priority. One proposed strategy to reduce unintended pregnancy is to improve access to oral contraceptives by changing them to over-the-counter (OTC) status. Existing data indicate that oral contraceptives meet safety criteria required of OTC products. Available literature demonstrates that women can self-screen for contraindications to...

In this paper, it is argued that oral contraceptives should be available without prescription. Prescription status entails heavy costs, including the dollar, time, and psychological costs of visiting a physician to obtain a prescription, the financial and human costs of unintended pregnancies that result from the obstacle to access caused by medicalization of oral contraceptives, and administra...

OBJECTIVE To examine the use of hormonal contraceptives among immigrant and native women in Norway. DESIGN Nationwide registry-based study based on merged data from the Norwegian Prescription Database, the Norwegian Population Registry, the Regular General Practitioner Database and the Medical Birth Registry. SETTING Norway. SAMPLE All women born abroad to two foreign-born parents (immigr...

Since the onset of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, a relevant question has been whether contraception can influence or be influenced by the disease, and how HIV prevention can be integrated into HIV prevention and care programmes. On face value, it would appear that the promotion of all types of contraceptives would complement and synergize HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. However, there is now sufficient e...

Refugee youths are vulnerable persons who have a need for contraception, yet face challenges that limit its use. Data on perceptions, knowledge, access and attitudes toward contraceptive use were collected from 208 refugee youths living in Oru refugee camp, Nigeria. Findings revealed that respondents experience difficulty gaining access to family planning services, which are not available in th...