Many adolescents and adults could potentially benefit from counseling about how to prevent unintended pregnancy.
Many more persons use contraception but fail to use it consistently or correctly.
Nearly half of all unintended pregnancies occur in women using a contraceptive method. 65 Information on the effectiveness of counseling by primary care clinicians in altering sexual practices or improving the use of contraception remains limited, however. The 1995 IOM report identified 23 pregnancy prevention programs that had been adequately evaluated, most of which targeted high-risk adolescents. Most evaluations were based on change in self-reported sexual activity and contraceptive use rather than actual rates of unintended pregnancy. One of the most effective programs combined a school curriculum with free contraceptive services through a school-linked clinic.