One in five having unprotected sex

Between a quarter and a fifth of sexually active New Zealanders are not using any kind of contraceptive, new national data shows.

The Ministry of Health published its latest findings on contraceptive use from the 2014/15 NZ Health Survey yesterday.

Of nearly 10,200 people who had heterosexual, vaginal sex in the four weeks before the survey, 74 per cent of women and 78 per cent of men aged 16-49 used a ‘‘modern’’ method of contraception. However, contraceptive use tended to be lower among Ma¯ ori and Pacific people and those living in the most deprived areas.

The survey found 83 per cent of men and 80 per cent of women used at least one form of contraceptive, but figures dropped when traditional methods were excluded.

Traditional methods of contraception include natural family planning (timing intercourse) and withdrawal.

Modern methods include implants, vasectomy, tubal ligation and hysterectomy, IUDs, injections, the pill, male and female condoms, diaphragms, spermicides and the morning-after pill.

Use of contraceptives among women varied by ethnicity and neighbourhood deprivation, the study showed.

European or ‘Other’ women were more likely to use a modern contraceptive – 78 per cent – followed by 71 per cent of Asian women, 70 per cent of Ma¯ ori and 52 per cent of Pacific women.

But sexually active Ma¯ ori and Pacific adults were less likely to use any contraceptives than non-Ma¯ ori or Pacific.

They were also less likely to have their needs met by a ‘modern’ contraceptive than non-Ma¯ ori or Pacific.

The most popular choices for women were the pill (23 per cent), condom (18 per cent) and their partner’s vasectomy (10 per cent).

Ma¯ ori and Pacific women were more likely to use implants.

Younger women were more commonly using contraceptives, but were also most likely to have an unplanned pregnancy, they found.