Unsatisfied contraceptive preferences due to cost among women in the United States

OBJECTIVES: To examine prevalence and characteristics associated with cost barriers to preferred contraceptive use. STUDY DESIGN: Among a nationally representative sample of women at risk of unplanned pregnancy in 2015-2017, we used Poisson regression to assess characteristics associated preferring a(nother) method in the absence of cost. RESULTS: Overall, 22% preferred to use a(nother) method. Women using less-effective methods, who were Black or Hispanic, ages 15-24 and had low incomes, were more likely to report cost barriers. CONCLUSIONS: Using a preferred method is an indicator of access to care and reproductive autonomy. These results provide a benchmark to track the impact of policy changes.