Eliana Diaz
Research Mentor(s): Alana Otto
Mentor Department: Department
Authors: Eliana Diaz, Anjelika Varma, Alana Otto
Session: Session 1 (9:00am – 9:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 91
Abstract
This study aims to explore adolescents’ and young adults’ perceptions of barriers and facilitators associated with over-the-counter (OTC) access to oral contraceptive pills (OCPs), with a particular focus on the newly FDA-approved Opill. The availability of OTC OCPs is a recent advancement aimed at improving accessibility and promoting autonomy for youth seeking reproductive healthcare. However, knowledge gaps and accessibility issues remain largely unaddressed. Our research seeks to identify factors influencing access to OCPs, including perceived needs, awareness, and potential barriers faced by adolescents and young adults. To gather relevant data, this study utilizes qualitative coding and thematic analysis of survey responses from MyVoice, a national text message survey designed to capture perspectives from U.S. adolescents and young adults. The findings reveal that most participants were unaware of the availability of Opill as an OTC option, indicating a substantial knowledge gap that may limit effective access to reproductive health resources. This lack of awareness suggests a critical need for educational efforts to inform adolescents and young adults about the availability, safety, and efficacy of OTC OCPs. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of developing targeted outreach and awareness campaigns to ensure that youth are adequately informed about their reproductive health options. Addressing these knowledge gaps is essential for promoting equitable access to reproductive healthcare and empowering young people to make informed decisions about their contraceptive needs.
