The Association between Race/Ethnicity and Perceptions of Weight Gain among Women Using Oral Contraceptives: A Study of Fertility and Oral Contraceptive Use Study (FOCUS) Participants

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Rivers, J. (2015). The Association between Race/Ethnicity and Perceptions of Weight Gain among Women Using Oral Contraceptives: A Study of Fertility and Oral Contraceptive Use Study (FOCUS) Participants. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), oral contraceptives (OCs) are the most popular reversible method of contraception. However, side effects, including concerns about weight gain, may lead some women to discontinue the use of this contraceptive method. This secondary data analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between race/ethnicity and perceptions of weight gain among 184 OC users aged 18-40 years who were enrolled in the Fertility and Oral Contraceptive Use Study (FOCUS). Data on race/ethnicity as well as perceptions of weight gain were self-reported during the baseline interview. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to model the association between race/ethnicity and perceptions of weight gain. After adjusting for education level, marital status, income, and duration of OC use, Hispanic women had 1.16 times the odds of perceiving weight gain (95% CI: 0.73-4.24) and non-Hispanic Black women had 1.49 times the odds of perceiving weight (95% CI: 0.36-3.74) compared to non-Hispanic White women. In addition, women of other races had decreased odds of perceiving weight gain after adjustment (OR= 0.69; 95% CI: 0.12-3.92). Counseling women of all races on available reproductive services, nutrition, physical activity, and other factors affecting OCs users may assist in reducing perceptions of weight gain. By removing the misconception that OC use can cause weight gain, women may continue to use this effective method of contraception rather than discontinuing its use and changing to a less reliable method.

Details
Author

Rivers, Jatyra

Title

The Association between Race/Ethnicity and Perceptions of Weight Gain among Women Using Oral Contraceptives: A Study of Fertility and Oral Contraceptive Use Study (FOCUS) Participants

Physical Description

1 online resource (42 pages) : PDF

Date

2015

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), oral contraceptives (OCs) are the most popular reversible method of contraception. However, side effects, including concerns about weight gain, may lead some women to discontinue the use of this contraceptive method. This secondary data analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between race/ethnicity and perceptions of weight gain among 184 OC users aged 18-40 years who were enrolled in the Fertility and Oral Contraceptive Use Study (FOCUS). Data on race/ethnicity as well as perceptions of weight gain were self-reported during the baseline interview. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to model the association between race/ethnicity and perceptions of weight gain. After adjusting for education level, marital status, income, and duration of OC use, Hispanic women had 1.16 times the odds of perceiving weight gain (95% CI: 0.73-4.24) and non-Hispanic Black women had 1.49 times the odds of perceiving weight (95% CI: 0.36-3.74) compared to non-Hispanic White women. In addition, women of other races had decreased odds of perceiving weight gain after adjustment (OR= 0.69; 95% CI: 0.12-3.92). Counseling women of all races on available reproductive services, nutrition, physical activity, and other factors affecting OCs users may assist in reducing perceptions of weight gain. By removing the misconception that OC use can cause weight gain, women may continue to use this effective method of contraception rather than discontinuing its use and changing to a less reliable method.

Genre

masters theses

Subjects--Topics

Public health

Degree

M.S.

Subject Area

Public Health

Advisor(s)

Brunner Huber, Larissa

Committee Members

Laditka, Sarah
Platonova, Elena

Degree Note

Thesis (M.S.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2015.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Rivers_uncc_0694N_10843

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1702