Contraceptive Use Common Among New Mothers: Study

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About 88 percent of American women who've recently had a baby use at least one contraceptive method, according to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released Thursday.

The analysis of 2004-06 data from 12 states and New York City also found that 62 percent of women use highly effective birth control methods, 20 percent use moderately effective methods, and 6 percent use less effective methods.

The study is the first to examine postpartum contraceptive use by method effectiveness, said the researchers. The findings appear in the latest issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, published by the CDC.

The researchers said use of highly effective birth control methods after a recent pregnancy are an important way of preventing unwanted pregnancies, ensuring adequate time between births, and reducing negative mother and infant outcomes.