Examining the impact of an online educational video on the contraceptive knowledge, awareness and choices of young women living in rural and remote Australia

Objective

To assess whether an online educational video, tailored to young women living in rural and remote areas, increases their contraceptive knowledge, preference for and uptake of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC).

Study Design

A single group pre-post survey design, in which participants completed the pre-video survey (S1), watched the 13-min video, then completed a survey immediately after (S2) and 6  months later (S3). Outcomes were analysed using McNemar tests and multivariate logistic regression.

Results

A total of 153 participants watched the video and completed S1 and S2; 56 % of these completed S3. Prevideo (S1) 33 % of participants were unaware of LARC methods. Only 3 % rated their knowledge about every method as high. Knowledge improved immediately post video (S2) for all methods (aOR 12.5, 95 % CI 5.2 to 29.8) and LARC methods (aOR 7.9, 95 % CI 4.3 to 11.8). Overall method preference for LARC increased from 23.5 % (n = 36) at S1 to 48 % (n = 74) at S2. Likelihood of using a LARC increased at S2 (aOR 2.1, 95 % CI 1.5 to 2.9). The overall proportion of participants using a LARC increased from 18 % at S1 to 21 % at S3, however, this increase was not significant (p = 0.3).

Conclusion

Our findings underscore the effectiveness of tailored online educational videos in enhancing contraceptive knowledge and preference for LARCs amongst young women living in rural and remote areas. However preference did not translate into uptake, suggesting that structural and other barriers may be prominent.

Implications

This study emphasises the need for a multifaceted approach to facilitating young womens’ access to effective methods of contraception, including LARC. Efforts to promote knowledge should be coordinated with place-based initiatives and policies that directly address the structural barriers to accessing critical sexual and reproductive health services unique to women in rural and remote areas.