Objective: To describe contraceptive service use and identify demographic and sexual behavioural characteristics associated with use (and non-use) of different services.
Methods: Probability survey sample of men and women aged 16-44 years, resident in Britain. Participants comprised 3369 men and 4375 women reporting vaginal intercourse in the last year (excluding those reporting exclusive use of sterilisation or medical investigations for infertility). Main outcome measures were use of contraceptive services, grouped as: general practice, community contraceptive clinics, retail services and nonuse of services.
Results: General practice was the most commonly reported source of contraceptive supplies for women (59.2%), while retail services were most frequently reported by men (42.7%). 16.3% of women and 7.3% of men reported using more than one type of service. 20.7% of women and 45.1% of men had used no service in the last year, and amongst 16-17-year-olds the proportions reporting non-use of services was 13.8% and 31.2%, respectively. Use of community contraceptive clinics was associated with being younger, childless, single and reporting more heterosexual partners in the last year.
Conclusions: There was relatively little 'shopping around' between different services, suggesting that choice of contraceptive providers ensures a range of needs is met for most people. While general practice is the most commonly used source of supplies, community contraceptive clinics are seeing those potentially at higher sexual health risk, particularly the young and those with multiple partners. Ways of improving young people's access to services for contraceptive supplies need to be addressed.