Perspectives on Contraceptives: Insights From Care Providers and Women With Lived Experiences of Unintended Pregnancy in the Netherlands

Objectives

This study aims to develop a greater understanding of why unintended pregnancies happen by exploring views on contraceptive use of both care providers and women with lived experience of an unintended pregnancy in the Netherlands.

Methods

We interviewed seven care providers involved in the care of women with unintended pregnancy in a focus group and individually interviewed 10 women with unintended pregnancy. We used reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Four themes emerged around the understanding of (lack of) contraceptive use in unintended pregnancies: “contraception perceived as unnecessary,” “psychosocial adversities,” “absence of suitable contraception,” and “failing contraception.” Among the care providers, the first two themes were most clearly present. Among women with unintended pregnancy, the last two themes were mainly emphasized.

Conclusions

Women with unintended pregnancies mention a lack of suitable contraceptive options and failing contraception as important factors for unintended pregnancy, whereas care providers view the perception of contraception as being unnecessary and psychosocial adversity as important factors in unintended pregnancies. These differences point to the importance of explicitly asking about and addressing the perspectives of women in contraceptive counseling.