Examining the Evidence on Contraceptive Misinformation and Disinformation (MDI)
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What is MDI?
Misinformation is “information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading according to the best available evidence at the time.” The line between information and misinformation can evolve over time as new evidence accumulates and understandings evolve
Disinformation is “when misinformation is used to serve a malicious purpose, such as to trick people into believing something for financial gain or political advantage.” Considered a subset of misinformation, disinformation is distinguished by its motivation or intent to harm, such as to trick people into believing something for financial gain or political advantage.
Why is contraceptive MDI a problem?
All individuals should have timely access to high-quality, accurate, relevant, respectful, and understandable contraceptive information that they want and need to make informed decisions about their contraception, aligned with their needs and desires. They should be able to navigate, trust, and act on this information. The proliferation and spread of MDI are urgent threats to this individual right—as well as to contraceptive access and equity.
While sexual and reproductive health MDI has proliferated for decades, recent reporting describes a marked uptick in MDI related to contraception, particularly online and among young people.
With neither sufficient nor accurate information about contraception based on high-integrity evidence, people may be more susceptible to MDI and struggle to make informed, autonomous contraceptive decisions.
People report not receiving the information they needed before choosing a contraceptive method, especially those most impacted by healthcare inequities. Specific communities, including people who are young, of color, and/or have lower levels of education, may also be more exposed to or specific targets of MDI.
Inadvertently or on purpose, MDI can cause misunderstanding among policymakers and providers, hinder evidence-based policymaking and service delivery, and fuel contraceptive access restrictions.
Contraceptive MDI can cause confusion, exacerbate mistrust, and dangerously advance policies, practices, behaviors, and beliefs that can negatively impact people’s sexual and reproductive health.
What do we know about contraceptive MDI?
Evidence and collective understanding of the scope of contraceptive MDI, along with its causes, consequences, and counter strategies is still emerging. Research shows that:
People widely believe misinformation and/or lack information related to four key outcomes:
Contraceptive safety, side effects, and mechanisms of action
Accessing contraception (e.g., whether certain methods are legal)
Accuracy of contraception information online
Healthcare providers’ knowledge and experience related to contraceptive MDI
Many people lack basic information about contraception, often due to broader structural barriers to information, such as lack of comprehensive sex education and limited access to quality contraceptive counseling. Individuals’ access or exposure to adequate sources of high-integrity information is vital.
While some actors purposefully share inaccurate information about contraception, others simply lack information, express confusion and uncertainty around the topic, or privilege their own personal beliefs or experiences.
While healthcare providers are often considered key and trusted messengers, misperceptions persist even among these professionals. Further research is needed to understand how these beliefs inform contraceptive care delivery and information-sharing by healthcare providers.
Individuals may prefer learning about contraception from social networks, which may increase reliance on social media platforms for information. Understanding and ensuring the quality of online contraceptive information is increasingly essential.
How can research help address contraceptive MDI?
In 2024, CECA and the Society of Family Planning (SFP) convened diverse experts to discuss how research can be of service to understanding and addressing contraceptive MDI. Key takeaways include:
More high-integrity information is not the only answer to counter healthcare MDI. Putting information in the right places, including among trusted messengers, is key to any intervention.
Researchers, clinicians, and others invested in uprooting contraceptive MDI must seriously consider people’s lived experiences with contraception, including with side effects. Otherwise, distrust and contraceptive MDI will continue to flourish.
The information environment is shaped by complex structural factors that require structural-level research, innovation, and solutions.
Developing and implementing effective interventions requires collaboration and coordination across fields, disciplines, and methodological expertise, beyond sexual and reproductive health.
A collective approach to counter contraceptive MDI must combine both immediate actions and longer-term thinking. Researchers and others can quickly implement interventions, “fail fast,” and iterate, in order to inform future research and the development of evidence-based strategies. Approaches should be nimble and responsive to the constantly evolving information environment.
What can we prioritize and move forward now?
CECA’s evidence- and stakeholder-informed Contraceptive Access Strategy outlines three recommended actions for creating a healthy information environment to help all people to make contraceptive choices aligned with their needs and desires:
Develop clear informational resources to ensure that various audiences, including policymakers, providers, and the public, understand contraception. Resources may include accurate and accessible guidelines for how to safely disclose health histories to contraceptive care providers, culturally responsive and multi-lingual fact sheets or talking points that convey the legality of contraception and abortion, and clear descriptions of the mechanisms of action of contraceptive methods.
Design and implement practical strategies to address contraceptive mis- and disinformation, such as clinical trainings, guides, and tools to improve provider awareness and enable clear, affirming, and evidence-based responses to contraceptive mis- and disinformation in patient and community interactions.
Develop and disseminate direct campaigns that translate resources into effective messaging; tailor dissemination tactics; and invest in broader informational efforts (e.g., comprehensive sex education programs) that meet the needs of specific health system, legislative, and community contexts.