Contraception Use and Counseling at a Student-Run Free Clinic

  • Amanda Pitre University of South Florida
  • Yamini Mulla University of South Florida
  • Bianca Arboleda University of South Florida
  • Eliza Nguyen University of South Florida
  • Heather Stewart University of South Florida
  • Emma Hale University of South Florida
  • Elizabeth Cook University of South Florida
  • Alexander Shahin University of South Florida
  • Lucy Guerra, MD, MPH University of South Florida
  • Deborah Trehy, MD University of South Florida
  • Karim Hanna, MD University of South Florida
  • Eduardo Gonzalez, MD University of South Florida
Keywords: contraception, women's health, medically uninsured

Abstract

Background: In the United States, about half of all pregnancies are unplanned. Unplanned pregnancy carries increased risks to patient and fetus and is increased independently by both poverty and being a racial or ethnic minority. The purpose of this study was to examine the percentage and types of contraceptives used by patients at the student-run Building Relationships and Initiatives Dedicated to Gaining Equality (BRIDGE) Healthcare Clinic and determine if clinic staff provided appropriate annual contraceptive counseling.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for all active BRIDGE patients that were female and aged 18-60 between 2015 and 2020. Information collected included demographics, obstetric history, tobacco use, medical history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or hypertension, and contraception use. 

Results: Of 145 patients reviewed, 77.2% used contraception at some point during the study period. Surgical contraception was the most common form used. No patients with a documented history of DVT or tobacco use used estrogen-containing contraception during the study period. One patient out of the twenty with documented hypertension used an estrogen-containing form of contraception for one year.

Conclusions: Overall, our clinic counseled the majority of patients of child-bearing age on contraception use. Contraception use in our population is above the national average and is appropriately prescribed.

Published
2022-06-01
How to Cite
Pitre, A., Mulla, Y., Arboleda, B., Nguyen, E., Stewart, H., Hale, E., Cook, E., Shahin, A., Guerra, L., Trehy, D., Hanna, K., & Gonzalez, E. (2022). Contraception Use and Counseling at a Student-Run Free Clinic. Journal of Student-Run Clinics, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.59586/jsrc.v8i1.280
Section
Original Study

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