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. Results show that wanting to limit births, having ever been married, and recent prior use are all associated with switching versus stopping. In addition, we find that women in West and Middle Africa were more likely to stop use compared to women in other regions. Addressing obstacles to contraceptive continuation, including effective method switching, among women who wish to delay or avoid pregnancy should be a priority for global and country initiatives aiming to deliver client-centered care that supports women and couples to make their best family planning choices.

中文翻译：

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停止或转换：在 48 个中低收入国家想要避免怀孕时停止使用或转换避孕方法的相关性

由于方法相关原因而停止避孕，虽然可能是想避免怀孕，但这是一种普遍现象，可能导致大量未满足的需求和计划外怀孕。一些女性停止使用避孕药具并且不会迅速恢复一种方法（“停止”），而另一些女性则能够快速切换到另一种方法以实现避免怀孕的生育目标（“转换”）。我们使用来自 48 个国家/地区的人口统计和健康调查数据来研究在因方法相关原因停止避孕的女性中，能够改用另一种方法的女性与最终完全停止避孕的女性之间的区别。结果表明，想要限制生育、曾经结过婚以及最近之前使用过这些都与转换与停止有关。此外，我们发现，与其他地区的女性相比，西非和中非的女性更有可能停止使用。解决希望延迟或避免怀孕的妇女继续避孕的障碍，包括有效的方法转换，应该是全球和国家倡议的优先事项，旨在提供以客户为中心的护理，支持妇女和夫妇做出最佳的计划生育选择。