Women's Health Issues RSS feed: Articles in Press. Women's Health Issues (WHI) is a peer-reviewed, bimonthly, multidisciplinary journal that publishes research and review manuscripts related to women's health care and policy. As the official journal of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health , it is dedicated to improving the health and health care of all women throughout the lifespan and in diverse communities. The journal seeks to inform health services researchers, health care and public health professionals, social scientists, policymakers, and others concerned with women's health. http://www.whijournal.com//inpress?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2012 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Women's Health Issues1049-38672012-05-11 © 2012 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.whijournal.com/article/PIIS1049386712000242/abstract?rss=yesAbstract: Context: Identifying sociodemographic and health-related risk factors associated with more effective versus less effective birth control use can help to identify barriers to effective birth control use and decrease risk for unintended pregnancy.Methods: Data used were from the 2007 Los Angeles County Health Survey. More effective birth control use was assessed among women ages 18 to 49, who were at risk for unintended pregnancy, residing in Los Angeles County. The study population consisted of 849 women. Multivariate associations of more effective birth control use with sociodemographic and health factors were assessed in logistic regression models. All analyses used weighted data.Results: Women who used a more effective birth control method at last act of coitus were less likely to be Black (odds ratio [OR], 0.33) or Asian/Pacific Islander (OR, 0.49), have less than a high school education (OR, 0.33), be a smoker (OR, 0.52), and have public insurance (OR, 0.47) than women using a less effective birth control method. They were more likely to have received a pap test (OR, 2.66), describe their health as fair or poor (OR, 2.39), and have a household income of 200% to 299% of the federal poverty level (OR, 2.25) than women using a less effective birth control method.Conclusions: Sociodemographic factors, some of which underlie cultural diversity, predict the use of more effective birth control methods and should be considered when providing family planning services and preconception health counseling to unique populations.Effective Birth Control Use Among Women at Risk for Unintended Pregnancy in Los Angeles, California - Corrected ProofTanya M. Phares, Yan Cui, Susie Baldwin10.1016/j.whi.2012.04.002Women's Health Issues (2012)2012-05-11Women's Health Issues2012-05-11ORIGINAL ARTICLE