Barroilhet Sergio, Señoret Camila, Mallea Ximena, Fritsch Rosemarie, Vöhringer Paul, Arraztoa José-Antonio
School of Psychology, University of Los Andes, Santiago, Chile.
School of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Linacre Q. 2018 May;85(2):155-166. doi: 10.1177/0024363918764950. Epub 2018 Apr 6.
To compare dyadic (marital) functioning between users of natural family planning (NFP) and users of artificial methods of contraception (AMC).
A cross-sectional study was conducted in healthy, over eighteen-year-old couples living in stable relationships recruited from primary and secondary health centers in Santiago, Chile. Participants were assessed using a structured interview on sociodemographic and sexual aspects. Primary outcome, marital functioning, was studied using the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS).
One hundred and thirty-eight couples were studied, sixty-nine in each user group. Both groups had a similar average time living together (124.3 vs. 126.9 months). DAS results were consistent with functional couples in both groups, but on average, the NFP group had a significantly higher DAS score than AMC. After controlling for age, socioeconomic status, time in the relationship, and religious commitment in multivariable analysis, the NFP group had a 47 percent (odds ratio = 1.47) greater possibility of having a functional marital score above the cutoff (DAS > 114) when compared with the AMC group. The AMC group reported more frequency of sexual intercourse but similar sexual satisfaction. Most (>60 percent) of the NFP couples mentioned that their methods improved their relationship.
There are sociodemographic differences between both groups, explained partly by unequal access to NFP centers. Both groups have DAS scores within functional range, but NFP users have a higher probability of being in that functional range. This study of mentally and emotionally healthy couples highlights the importance of family planning methods on intimate relationships. Marital functioning is affected by family planning methods. A structured interview and a specific inventory to address conjugal functioning were applied to a group of healthy couples who live in stable relationships and are users of natural family planning (NFP) or artificial methods of contraception (AMC). The results were consistent with functional couples in both groups, but on average, the NFP group had a significantly higher score than the AMC group. The use of NFP explained this difference. This study of mentally and emotionally healthy couples highlights the importance of family planning methods on intimate relationships.
比较自然计划生育（NFP）使用者与人工避孕方法（AMC）使用者之间的二元（婚姻）功能。
在智利圣地亚哥的初级和二级卫生中心招募处于稳定关系的18岁以上健康夫妇，进行一项横断面研究。通过结构化访谈对参与者的社会人口统计学和性方面进行评估。使用二元调整量表（DAS）研究主要结局——婚姻功能。
共研究了138对夫妇，每个使用者组各69对。两组的平均共同生活时间相似（124.3个月对126.9个月）。DAS结果在两组功能性夫妇中一致，但平均而言，NFP组的DAS得分显著高于AMC组。在多变量分析中控制年龄、社会经济地位、关系持续时间和宗教信仰后，与AMC组相比，NFP组婚姻功能得分高于临界值（DAS>114）的可能性高47%（优势比=1.47）。AMC组报告的性交频率更高，但性满意度相似。大多数（>60%）NFP夫妇提到他们的方法改善了他们的关系。
两组之间存在社会人口统计学差异，部分原因是获取NFP中心的机会不平等。两组的DAS得分均在功能范围内，但NFP使用者处于该功能范围的概率更高。这项针对心理和情感健康夫妇的研究强调了计划生育方法对亲密关系的重要性。婚姻功能受计划生育方法影响。对一组处于稳定关系且是自然计划生育（NFP）或人工避孕方法（AMC）使用者的健康夫妇应用了结构化访谈和用于评估婚姻功能的特定量表。结果在两组功能性夫妇中一致，但平均而言，NFP组得分显著高于AMC组。使用NFP解释了这种差异。这项针对心理和情感健康夫妇的研究强调了计划生育方法对亲密关系的重要性。
