Abstract
Objective
This study aims to investigate hormonal contraceptive (HC) use and user characteristics
in women aged 40–49 years in Norway, as little is known on use of HCs in this age
segment.
Material and methods
This prevalence study included 2296 women aged 40–49 years who participated in the
2015–16 Tromsø Study, which collected self-reported sociodemographic information and
data from a wide range of validated health questionnaires. The participants had been
sexually active the last 12 months prior enrollment, were not pregnant, not trying
to conceive, and had no prior fertility problems. We categorized use of HC into three
groups; no HC use, hormonal IUD use and other HC use. Explanatory variables included
demographic, educational, economic and general health variables. All analyses were
performed in SPSS with chi-square test and logistic regression at significance level
p < 0.05.
Results
Nearly 50 % of the study sample reported HC use with hormonal IUD use as the major
method (39.5 %/40–44 years; 43.4 %/45–49 years old women). There were no differences
in HC use by partner status, educational level, or BMI. Though statistically significant,
we found only minor differences in HC use by occupational status, gross household
income, and general health status, with higher proportions of women with no paid work,
the lowest income, and poor health status reporting no HC use.
Conclusion
The high HC use and the minor differences found across demographic and socioeconomic
parameters indicate that HC use, and hormonal IUD use in particular, is widely used
among middle-aged women living in the city of Tromsø.
Abbreviations:
BMI (Body mass index), CI (Confidence interval), HCs (Hormonal contraceptives), IUD (Intrauterine device)Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 23, 2022
Accepted:
November 20,
2022
Received in revised form:
November 11,
2022
Received:
September 23,
2022
Identification
Copyright
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