Title: The effect of marital dissolution on contraceptive protection

POPLINE Document Number: 016784

Author(s):

Bumpass L
Rindfuss RR

Source citation:

Madison, Wis, University of Wisconsin, Center for Demography and Ecology, 1982. 15 p. (CDE Working Paper no. 82-56)

Abstract:

Monthly contraceptive histories, collected for a period of about 3 years immediately preceding both the 1973 and 1976 US National Surveys of Family Growth (NSFG) were used to analyze the effect of marital dissolution on contraceptive protection. The respondent was questioned about what method of contraception she used in each month during these periods. Respondents were also asked about periods in which they were not having sexual intercourse. The specific study question was whether a marital dissolution (i.e., a separation of spouses for reasons of marital discord) was associated with a change in contraceptive use. The strategy used was to randomly select a reference month (R) from the monthly histories of women who were married throughout the observation period. This resulted in a set of reference months that were distributed in approximately the same fashions as the separations. The number of cases at R was 1232 for those with separations and 14,237 for those who were married throughout. Marital dissolution did have an effect on contraceptive use, but despite this effect contraceptive use patterns following separation were remarkably similar to those of individuals who remained continuously married. Although separation was an important factor, it was not the dominating factor. Separation had a consistent effect on contraceptive use both before and after the marital dissolution: coitus dependent methods were avoided and sexual relations were less likely. Prior to the marital dissolution the disagreement between the spouses which ultimately resulted in a separation also was likely to result in a cessation of sexual relations. If the couple was still having intercourse, they were less likely to use methods that require cooperation, i.e., coitus dependent methods. The combination of a higher perceived cost of becoming pregnant in the intermarital period, along with the sporadic nature of coitus, probably led to avoidance of the less effective coitus dependent methods during the intermarital period, but less stable relationships with partners may also be a factor. These effects of separation were statistically significant. The unexpected result was that, on balance, the contraceptive behavior of the separated (before and after separation) was similar to that of continuously married women. The percent continuing to use oral contraception (OC) 3 months after R was 75 for those who separated and 85 for the continuously married. The difference was significant, but the proportions were little different substantively. Following separation, most women continued to use contraception in a pattern that was similar to the continuously married.

Keywords:

United States
Marital Status
Separation
Marriage Patterns
Contraceptive Usage
Contraceptive History
Data Analysis
Sexual Intercourse
Sex Behavior
Changes
Developed Countries
North America
Americas
Nuptiality
Marriage
Contraception
Family Planning
Research Methodology
Reproduction
Behavior
Social Change