Reproductive outcomes following contraceptive discontinuation for method-related reasons: An analysis of 49 Demographic and Health Surveys.

Contraceptive discontinuation for method-related reasons is a common experience in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and may heighten women's risk of unintended pregnancy. Few studies have provided a comprehensive assessment of reproductive outcomes following contraceptive discontinuation in LMICs over the last decade. Using cross-sectional data from 49 Demographic and Health Surveys, we applied competing risks estimation to calculate monthly probabilities of contraceptive resumption and pregnancy over a 12-month period among pooled, regional, and country-specific samples of women who discontinued contraception for method-related reasons (corresponding to 174,726 episodes of discontinuation).

Choices and Challenges: Visualizing Contraceptive Use Dynamics Data in 15 Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Interactive data visualization tools, particularly Sankey diagrams, are an effective approach for showing high-level trends in contraceptive adoption, switching, and discontinuation.

Stop or Switch: Correlates of Stopping Use or Switching Contraceptive Methods While Wanting to Avoid Pregnancy in 48 Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Contraceptive discontinuation for method-related reasons, while presumably wanting to avoid pregnancy, is a common phenomenon and can contribute to high levels of unmet need and unplanned pregnancies. Some women discontinue contraceptive use and do not quickly resume a method ("stopping"), while others are able to quickly switch to another method to achieve their reproductive goal of avoiding pregnancy ("switching"). We use Demographic and Health Survey data from 48 countries to examine what differentiates women who were able to switch to another method versus those who ultimately stopped entirely, among women who discontinued contraception for method-related reasons.