Date

8-18-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore women’s experiences with contraceptive discontinuation and to analyze the importance of various factors that influenced the decision to switch or discontinue contraceptives. Qualitative interviews asking participants about their experiences with contraceptive discontinuation and decision making were conducted with 15 participants between the ages of 18 and 45 (M = 27.6, SD = 7.9). Thematic analysis was applied to these interviews, and we identified four themes in the data. The first theme, Early Experiences with Contraceptives, explored the similar perceptions that women had towards the beginning of their contraceptive journeys that led to contraceptive discontinuation. Perceptions of the Risk-Benefit Analysis outlined how each participant weighed the pros and cons of each method, which further influenced the decisions to discontinue contraceptives. Feelings about Contraceptive Information captured the influence of contraceptive information on their decision to discontinue contraceptives. Perceptions of Autonomy examined how the availability of contraceptive information affected participants perceptions of control and autonomy with their decisions. This study is important because it provides information about the different influential factors in each individual contraceptive experience. What we have learned in this study, may help women make an informed contraceptive decision by giving them a new perspective of the contraceptive paradigm.

Department

Psychology

Thesis Comittee

Theresa Jackson Ph.D., Thesis Advisor
Michael Root Ph.D., Committee Member
Hana Shahin Ph.D., Committee Member

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