Study Finds Free and Confidential Contraception Increases Use Among Ontario Youth

A recent study conducted by McMaster University has demonstrated that providing free and confidential access to contraceptive services significantly enhances usage among young people in Ontario. The research analyzed the impact of Ontario's OHIP+ program, which offered free prescription medications—including oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) and intrauterine devices (IUDs)—to individuals under 25 from January 2018 to March 2019. During this period, over 1.17 million OCPs were dispensed, representing a 27% increase compared to the previous year, while IUD adoption soared by nearly 80%. The study highlights that removing financial and accessibility barriers can substantially improve contraceptive uptake among youth.

Findings, published in JAMA Pediatrics, underscore that confidential access is crucial, especially since reliance on parental insurance can deter young people from seeking contraception. When Ontario revised the program in April 2019 to exclude those with private insurance, contraceptive use declined, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive coverage.

Researchers emphasize that policies facilitating free and private access to contraception have a positive effect on reproductive health outcomes. This evidence supports ongoing discussions about a national pharmacare plan that would include universal free contraception across Canada. The study utilized pharmacy data tracking over 44.9 million prescriptions nationwide between 2016 and 2020, providing a robust analysis of the policy's impact.

Expert insights from lead author Amanda Downey and senior researcher Emmanuel Guindon confirm that removing cost barriers leads to increased contraceptive use, which is essential for youth health empowerment. The findings come amid Canada's consideration of expanding pharmacare and are timely with recent federal initiatives aimed at universal contraception access.