Providing Birth Control Through Home Health Visits
Providing Birth Control Through Home Health Visits
This study will evaluate a program that provides birth control to low income and minority
 women through home visits by a community health nurse. The goal of the program is to reduce
 unwanted pregnancies.
Unintended pregnancy is associated with significant public health problems, including
 inadequate prenatal care, low birth weight infants, infant mortality, and maternal morbidity
 and mortality. Children born as a result of unplanned pregnancies are at greater risk for
 poor outcomes such as poor mental health and developmental disabilities. This research
 project will determine whether providing contraception in the home can reduce the incidence
 of unintended pregnancy in low income and minority women. The project will also determine
 whether delaying a pelvic exam encourages or discourages the utilization of clinic-based
 preventive services to screen for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and cervical cancer.

 Participants will be randomized to either an experimental group or a comparison group. Each
 participant will receive family planning counseling during a home visit by a community health
 nurse. Participants in the experimental group will be offered a three-month supply of oral
 contraceptives or a depo-provera shot; both forms of contraceptives will be delivered during
 home visits. Each participant will complete a survey during the initial visit and during a
 1-year follow-up. The study will last approximately three years.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Women of child bearing age

 -  Not pregnant

 -  Interested in delaying pregnancy using oral contraceptives or a depo-provera shot

 -  Had sex in the last month or are planning to have sex in the next month

 -  Have not used contraception during every sexual encounter within 3 months prior to
 study entry