Contraception decision making by Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Australian youth: an exploratory study

Abstract

Context: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) youth may become early parents, with some aspiring to parenthood. Yet, the factors that influence CALD youths contraceptive decision-making are less well known, although important for designing appropriate contraception use support programmes for this population. This study aimed to explore the contraception decision-making patterns of CALD Australian youth, in-addition to investigating the factors that influence their use of contraception services. Methods: We conducted focus groups with 27 CALD youth (ages 16-24) to explore their 1) their contraception use 1) decision-making, 2) information sources, and 3) priority services. For the data synthesis, we utilized thematic analysis to characterize the CALD youth contraception use orientation. Results: Three themes emerged from the data: 1) the prevalent use of fail-safe contraception methods to minimize personal anxiety, 2) the reliance on online rather than in-person information sources, and 3) the importance to minimize risk for social stigma from use of contraception. Conclusions: CALD Australian youth reported being competent in self-managing their contraception use decisions. Contraption decision support for CALD youth should address their anxieties about the risk of contraception failure and concerns regarding social stigmas. KEY POINTS What is already known: (1) Australian young females from racial and language minority background communities become parents at younger ages than those from the general Australian population. (2) Some look forward to becoming parents earlier rather than later in their lives. What this topic adds: (1) We unraveled decision making processes and tools the teenagers prefer to use outside conventional understandings. (2) Cultural psychology beliefs rooted in family social protections are an overriding decision influence in contraception choices. (3) Peers were less trusted partners in sexual decisions compared to use of online services.