A survey of mothers' comfort discussing contraception with infant providers at well-child visits.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether mothers feel comfortable with their infants' providers discussing contraception with them at their infants' well-child checks.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a convenience sample of 114 mothers presenting at a community family medicine residency program for well-child visits among infants up to 17 months old.

RESULTS

Almost all mothers (87%) felt comfortable talking with their infants' providers about contraception and were likely to accept the advice of their infants' providers to see their own doctors regarding contraception (83%) or to use a prescription from their infants' providers for contraception (75%).

CONCLUSION

Many mothers miss or delay their postpartum visits but see their infants' doctor multiple times within the first year. Mothers are comfortable talking with infant providers about contraception. By discussing contraception with mothers at well-child visits, physicians may encourage mothers to use contraception and prevent unintended pregnancies.