Prevalence of Contraceptive Methods in Cuban, Dominican and Puerto Rican Women Athletes

Abstract

2122 Little is known about the prevalence of contraceptive methods used by women athletes. PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of contraceptive methods used by Cuban, Domican and Puerto Rican women athletes. METHODS: Three-hundred twenty-nine post menarche athletes were interviewed during a Caribbean regional championship. They were from Cuba (n = 150), Dominican Republic (n = 35) and Puerto Rico (n = 144). All were informed and voluntarily provided their consent. The athletes specialties were: track and field (sprints and field events), basketball, volleyball, swimming, bowling, team handball, cycling, diving, fencing, field hockey, judo, tae-kwon-do, softball, tennis, target shooting, archery, gymnastics, synchronized swimming, rowing, and table tennis. RESULTS: The reported methods of contraception were: oral contraceptive pills, rhythm, withdrawal, condom, intra-uterine device, sterilization, vaginal foam and others. The prevalence of contraceptive methods use was 49.1%. Seventy-five (75) percent of the Cuban athletes were using some method of contraception while the prevalence of use by Dominicans and Puerto Ricans was 38% and 37%, respectively. The preferred two methods of contraception were the “the pill” (16.2%) and the intra-uterine device (15.9%). The less utilized methods were sterilization (1.4%) and vaginal foams (0.2%).TableAmong Cubans the preferred method was the intra-uterine device (45%) while for Puerto Ricans and Dominicans were the condom (15.3%) and “the pill” (17.1%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide new information regarding the prevalence of contraceptive use of women athletes from the Caribbean region and suggest the need for further research in this area.