Impact of a community contraceptive counselling intervention on adolescent fertility rates: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: From 2000 to 2008, in urban areas in Spain, adolescent fertility and abortion rates underwent unprecedented increases, consecutive to intensive immigration from developing countries. To address unmet needs for contraception information and services, a community-based, gender-sensitive and culturally adapted brief counselling intervention (SIRIAN program) was launched in some deprived neighbourhoods with a high proportion of immigrants in Barcelona. Once a randomized controlled trial demonstrated its effectiveness in increasing the use of contraceptives, we aim to examine its population impact on adolescent fertility rates. METHODS: Quasi-experimental study with comparison group, using population data from 2005 to 2016. Five neighbourhoods in the lowest tercile of Disposable Household Income were intervened in 2011-13. The comparison group included the three neighbourhoods which were in the same municipal district and in the lowest Disposable Household Income tercile, and displayed the highest adolescent fertility rates. Generalized linear models were fitted to assess absolute adolescent fertility rates and adjusted by immigrant population between pre-intervention (2005-10) and post-intervention periods (2011-16); Difference in Differences and relative pre-post changes analysis were performed. RESULTS: In 2005-10 the intervention group adolescent fertility rate was 27.90 (per 1000 women 15-19) and 21.84 in the comparison group. In 2011-16 intervention areas experienced great declines (adolescent fertility rate change: - 12.30 (- 12.45 to - 12.21); p < 0.001), while comparison neighbourhoods remained unchanged (adolescent fertility rate change: 1.91 (- 2.25 to 6.07); p = 0.368). A reduction of - 10.97 points (- 13.91 to - 8.03); p < 0.001) is associated to the intervention. CONCLUSION: Adolescent fertility rate significantly declined in the intervention group but remained stable in the comparison group. This quasi-experimental study provide evidence that, in a country with universal health coverage, a community counselling intervention that increases access to contraception, knowledge and sexual health care in hard-to-reach segments of the population can contribute to substantially reduce adolescent fertility rates. Reducing adolescent fertility rates could become a feasible goal in cities with similar conditions.

Anticoncepción en la población gitana residente en dos barrios con bajo nivel de renta de Barcelona / Contraception in the Roma population living in two low-income neighborhoods of Barcelona (Spain)

Objetivo: Describir el conocimiento y el uso de anticonceptivos y de servicios sanitarios en la población gitana de dos barrios de renta baja de Barcelona (2011-2015). Método: Estudio de metodología mixta en el ámbito comunitario. 1) Estudio cuantitativo descriptivo transversal. Entrevista con cuestionario a una muestra de residentes en edad fértil. Comparación del conocimiento y el uso de anticonceptivos y de servicios según etnia y sexo con modelos ajustados de regresión logística para obtener odds ratios ajustadas (ORa) y sus intervalos de confianza del 95% (IC95%). 2) Estudio cualitativo descriptivo con método etnográfico. Entrevista a 10 residentes de etnia gitana y tres profesionales de salud para explorar aspectos de anticoncepción, familia y roles. Análisis narrativo de discurso de los textos. Resultados: Participaron 834 personas, de las que un 11,8% se autoidentificaron como gitanas. Las mujeres gitanas utilizaban más que las no gitanas la ligadura tubárica (ORa: 3,0; IC95%: 1,3-7) y el implante (ORa: 4,9; IC95%: 3,1-72), y conocían mejor el dispositivo intrauterino (ORa: 2,4; IC95%: 1,4-4,1), la obstrucción tubárica (ORa: 3,3; IC95%: 1,1-9,9) y los inyectables (ORa: 2,4; IC95%: 1,3-4,4). Los hombres gitanos utilizaban más frecuentemente la retirada (ORa: 3,6; IC95%: 1,3-10), práctica corroborada en el estudio cualitativo. Ambas poblaciones utilizaban similarmente la anticoncepción de emergencia y los servicios sanitarios. En la población gitana, la anticoncepción y la reproducción son responsabilidad de las mujeres. Aunque el aborto está culturalmente penalizado en la comunidad gitana, las mujeres gitanas lo utilizan, pero lo afrontan en soledad. Conclusiones: El género emergió como un determinante transversal en los aspectos explorados. En la población gitana el control reproductivo sigue siendo una responsabilidad femenina. Una vez completada la familia, las mujeres gitanas usan anticonceptivos de larga duración. Ambas poblaciones utilizan los servicios sanitarios

Objective: To describe the knowledge and use of contraceptive methods and health services in the Roma population (Kale/Spanish Gitanos) of two low-income neighbourhoods of Barcelona (2011-2015). Method: Mixed. Community setting. 1) Descriptive cross-sectional study. We interviewed with a questionnaire a sample of residents of childbearing age. We compared the knowledge and use of contraception and services by ethnic self-identification and sex with adjusted logistic regression models to obtain adjusted odds ratio (ORa) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). 2) Qualitative descriptive study with ethnographic method. We interviewed 10 Roma residents and three health professionals to explore aspects of contraception, family and roles. We performed a narrative analysis of discourse from the recorded texts. Results: 834 people participated, with an 11.8% self-identified Roma population. With regard to the non-Roma population, more Roma women used tubal ligation (ORa: 3.0; 95%CI: 1.3-7)] and implant (ORa:4.9; 95%CI: 3.1-72), and had better knowledge of IUD (ORa: 2,4; 95%CI: 1,4-4,1), tubal obstruction (ORa: 3,3; 95%CI: 1,1-9,9) and injectables (ORa: 2,4; 95%CI: 1.3-4.4). Roma men used withdrawal more frequently (ORa: 3.6; 95%CI: 1.3-10), a practice confirmed in the qualitative study. Both communities used emergency contraception and health services. In the Roma population, contraception and reproduction are in the hands of women. As abortion is culturally penalized in the Roma population, women use it, but they face it alone. Conclusions: Gender emerged as a cross-cutting determinant in all issues explored. In the Roma population reproductive control and contraception remain the responsibility of women. Once the family is complete, Roma women use long-term contraception. Both populations use health services

[Contraception in the Roma population living in two low-income neighborhoods of Barcelona (Spain)]. / Anticoncepción en la población gitana residente en dos barrios con bajo nivel de renta de Barcelona.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the knowledge and use of contraceptive methods and health services in the Roma population (Kale/Spanish Gitanos) of two low-income neighbourhoods of Barcelona (2011-2015). METHOD: Mixed. Community setting. 1) Descriptive cross-sectional study. We interviewed with a questionnaire a sample of residents of childbearing age. We compared the knowledge and use of contraception and services by ethnic self-identification and sex with adjusted logistic regression models to obtain adjusted odds ratio (ORa) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI). 2) Qualitative descriptive study with ethnographic method. We interviewed 10 Roma residents and three health professionals to explore aspects of contraception, family and roles. We performed a narrative analysis of discourse from the recorded texts. RESULTS: 834 people participated, with an 11.8% self-identified Roma population. With regard to the non-Roma population, more Roma women used tubal ligation (ORa: 3.0; 95%CI: 1.3-7)] and implant (ORa:4.9; 95%CI: 3.1-72), and had better knowledge of IUD (ORa: 2,4; 95%CI: 1,4-4,1), tubal obstruction (ORa: 3,3; 95%CI: 1,1-9,9) and injectables (ORa: 2,4; 95%CI: 1.3-4.4). Roma men used withdrawal more frequently (ORa: 3.6; 95%CI: 1.3-10), a practice confirmed in the qualitative study. Both communities used emergency contraception and health services. In the Roma population, contraception and reproduction are in the hands of women. As abortion is culturally penalized in the Roma population, women use it, but they face it alone. CONCLUSIONS: Gender emerged as a cross-cutting determinant in all issues explored. In the Roma population reproductive control and contraception remain the responsibility of women. Once the family is complete, Roma women use long-term contraception. Both populations use health services.

Effects of a counselling intervention to improve contraception in deprived neighbourhoods: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the effects of a community-based counselling intervention to improve contraception use among immigrant and native residents in deprived neighbourhoods. Methods: Randomized controlled trial. Women aged 14-49 years and men aged 14-39 years from two low-income neighbourhoods with high proportion of immigration in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) who had not undergone irreversible contraception and were not planning a pregnancy were recruited (2011-13). A culturally developed and theoretically based brief counselling intervention was delivered in community settings. The primary outcome was the consistent use of effective contraceptive methods (optimal use). Secondary outcomes were the incorrect use of effective methods and the use of less effective methods stratified by sex and migrant status. Differences within subgroups from baseline to the 3-month follow-up were analysed by intention to treat and per protocol. The effects were assessed with adjusted robust Poisson regressions. Results: The study enrolled and randomized 746 eligible participants. There were no differences between the intervention and control groups in demographic characteristics. Optimal use significantly increased in men, women, immigrants and natives in the intervention group, with no changes in the control group. In the intervention group, inconsistent use of effective methods decreased by 54.9% and that of less effective methods by 47.2%. The overall adjusted prevalence ratio of optimal use in the intervention group versus the control group was 1.138 (95% CI: 1.010-1.284). Conclusion: This brief counselling intervention increased the consistent use of effective contraception in low-income neighbourhoods with a high proportion of immigration.

Efectos de una intervención de consejo anticonceptivo en adolescentes de barrios desfavorecidos con alta proporción de inmigrantes / Effects of a contraceptive counselling intervention in adolescents from deprived neighbourhoods with a high proportion of immigrants

Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de una intervención de consejo contraceptivo en adolescentes según sexo y origen. Métodos: Diseño pre-post con entrevista a los 3 meses. Participaron adolescentes de tres barrios desfavorecidos de Barcelona que recibieron una intervención de consejo contraceptivo. Se compararon el uso de contracepción en la última relación sexual, y diversos conocimientos, creencias y autoeficacias, estratificando por sexo y origen (autóctono o inmigrante), con pruebas de McNemar y ji2. Resultados: 138 adolescentes completaron el seguimiento (76%). El 55% eran chicas, el 85% tenían 16-19 años y el 71% eran inmigrantes. Tras la intervención mejoraron los conocimientos y diversas autoeficacias. El uso de contracepción efectiva aumentó en todos los grupos. En la muestra total, el uso de preservativo aumentó un 5,4% y la ausencia de método se redujo un 7,7%. Conclusiones: Tras la intervención mejoró el uso de contracepción y sus determinantes en los adolescentes, particularmente en los inmigrantes (AU)

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a contraceptive counselling intervention among adolescents by sex and origin. Methods :A pre-post study with a 3-month follow-up was conducted in adolescents from three disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Participants received a counselling session at a community centre. Contraception use at last intercourse and knowledge, beliefs and self-efficacy before and after the intervention were compared with ji2 and McNemar tests, stratified by sex and origin (autochthonous or immigrant). Results: A total of 138 (76%) participants completed the follow-up. Fifty-five percent of the participants were girls, 85% were aged 16-19 years and 71% were immigrants. Knowledge and several self-efficacies increased after the intervention. Condom use increased by 5.4% and the proportion not using any method declined by 7.7%. Conclusions: Contraceptive counselling in the community setting increased the use of contraception and improved psychosocial determinants, especially in immigrant adolescents (AU)

[Effects of a contraceptive counselling intervention in adolescents from deprived neighbourhoods with a high proportion of immigrants]. / Efectos de una intervención de consejo anticonceptivo en adolescentes de barrios desfavorecidos con alta proporción de inmigrantes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a contraceptive counselling intervention among adolescents by sex and origin. METHODS: A pre-post study with a 3-month follow-up was conducted in adolescents from three disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Participants received a counselling session at a community centre. Contraception use at last intercourse and knowledge, beliefs and self-efficacy before and after the intervention were compared with χ(2) and McNemar tests, stratified by sex and origin (autochthonous or immigrant). RESULTS: A total of 138 (76%) participants completed the follow-up. Fifty-five percent of the participants were girls, 85% were aged 16-19 years and 71% were immigrants. Knowledge and several self-efficacies increased after the intervention. Condom use increased by 5.4% and the proportion not using any method declined by 7.7%. CONCLUSIONS: Contraceptive counselling in the community setting increased the use of contraception and improved psychosocial determinants, especially in immigrant adolescents.