Education for Soldiers to Increase Contraceptive Use

Background In the U.S. military, unintended pregnancy rates are higher than the national average at 52%, despite access to healthcare for all active duty service members and their families. Within the military, unintended pregnancy carries the potential to impact operational readiness. Evidence suggests that unintended pregnancy among military personnel can be attributed to a lack of contraceptive use. Purpose The purpose of this project was to educate soldiers about their contraceptive options and measure self-reported intent to use contraceptives. Methods A convenience sample (n=82) of soldiers received group education on contraceptive topics. Participant baseline knowledge of available contraceptive methods and the success of the educational session were measured by assessing the number of correct responses on 17 matched pre- and posttest questions acquired from the Contraceptive Knowledge Assessment. Results The total participant average of correct responses on pre and posttests was 46% (SD= .30) and 74% (SD = .24) respectively. Total averages of pre- and posttest scores were compared using the t-test (p < .01) and indicated a significant change in the overall participant average score after the 75-minute educational session. Implications This project demonstrated that contraceptive knowledge can be improved with minimal time and that implementation of a similar educational session is possible for all junior enlisted soldiers. An increase in knowledge is not assumed to affect one's willingness to use contraceptives. Future researchers can likely assume that contraceptive knowledge levels are low among junior enlisted soldiers and should therefore aim to develop a comprehensive education plan that includes behavior modification strategies.