Women's Current Religious Affiliation and Emergency Contraception Use, National Survey Of Family Growth, 2011-2013 Open Access

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Previous research demonstrates an association between religious affiliation and various forms of contraception among women; however, the association between current religious affiliation and emergency contraception use is not well-examined. We conducted a cross-sectional, quantitative analysis of the association between current religious status and lifetime emergency contraception use among women in the United States.

METHODS: Using data from the 2011-2013 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG), we examined emergency contraception use among women aged 15-44 years, and its association with current religious affiliation. We estimated prevalence odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for this association. Both unadjusted and adjusted analyses were conducted using logistic regression, and examining all possible two-way interactions between religious affiliation and each of the co-variables (age, race and ethnicity, residence, United States nativity, income, cohabitation status, and current religious attendance).

RESULTS: Overall, 20% of the women in the 2011-2013 NSFG who reported emergency contraception use reported either no or a specific current religious affiliation. There was significant interaction between current religious affiliation and income. Women within the high income strata and who were Catholic (aOR: 0.60; CI: 0.39-0.91)), Baptist (aOR: 0.46; CI: 0.26-0.81), Protestant (aOR: 0.53; CI: 0.35-0.83), or of Other (aOR: 0.37; CI: 0.20-0.71) religions were less likely to have reported use of emergency contraception compared to women with no religious affiliation within the same income strata.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study estimated a novel association between one's current religious affiliation and self-reported emergency contraception use, further mediated by income status. Our study generates new hypotheses for understanding predictors of emergency contraception use among women in the United States. Partnerships between various religious institutions, and the public health and medical communities can be developed to better understand their integrated dynamics and mechanisms that promote emergency contraception use among women.

Table of Contents

Publication Cover: 1

Abstract for Publication: 2

Introduction: 3

Background: 3

Methods: 7

Results: 10

Discussion: 12

Conclusion: 14

References: 17

Figure 1: 19

Table 1: 20

Table 1 (continued): 21

Table 1 (continued): 22

Table 2: 23

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Executive Masters of Public Health
Degree	MPH
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Religion, General Women's Studies Health Sciences, Epidemiology
Keyword	Emergency Contraception Epidemiology Religion
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Kancherla, Vijaya , Emory University
Committee Members	Christiansen-Lindquist, Lauren , Emory University

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