A survey of opinions on emergency contraception in young women in Southern Italy (original) (raw)

EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION AMONG FEMALE REGULAR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF DEBRE MARKOS UNIVERSITY - KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, UTILIZATION, AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS, 2021: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

ethiopian journal of reproductive health , 2022

INTRODUCTION: Contraception failure, condom breakage, missed doses of oral contraceptives, and failure to use any method of contraception are all common reasons for emergency contraception. To prevent such problems, emergency contraceptives are the only method that can be used after unprotected sex. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of emergency contraception in the study area. METHODS: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 446 students using multistage stratified sampling was conducted at Debre Markos University from June 27 to July 15, 2021. Data were entered into EPI info and translated into a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) for window version 26 for data analysis. Multiple logistic regressions were employed. RESULTS: Most of the participants 330 (74.4%) reported having heard about emergency contraception (EC). Out of those who heard about EC, 58.1% identified oral pills as a possible method of EC, followed by injectable 18%. Around half, 207 (46.7%) of the study participants indicated that they recommended others to use ECs. Among the respondents who had ever heard of EC, almost a quarter of 104 (23.3%) of them had ever used EC pills. Females who are 5th year (AOR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.66-.97), respondents who are from health science (AOR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.01-5.07), and respondents whose father had a first degree and above (AOR: 6.297, 95% CI: 2.06-19.26) were strongly associated with knowledge of female students with ECs. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This study showed that the awareness of emergency contraception among the respondents was fair. Furthermore, their attitude towards the use of emergency contraception and advising others to use and practice was low. Therefore, to further increase the knowledge, attitude, and practice of user-friendly emergency contraception services, basic training on reproductive health and family communication services should be promoted.

Birth control knowledge among freshmen of four Italian universities

Scientific Reports, 2020

Since sexual health education (SHE) is not mandatory in Italian schools, we conducted a survey on freshmen of four Italian university campuses in 2012 to investigate the respective level of sexual health knowledge (SHK) in relation to birth control, with the aim to inform public health policy makers. A convenience strategy was employed to sample 4,552 freshmen registered with various undergraduate courses at four Italian universities: Padua university (Veneto Region); university of Milan (Lombardy Region); university of Bergamo (Lombardy Region); university of Palermo (Sicily Region). We investigated the level of SHK on birth control using 6 proxy indicators: (1) the average length of a woman’s period [outcome with 3 levels: wrong (base) vs. acceptable vs. correct]; (2) the most fertile interval within a woman’s period (binary outcome: correct vs. wrong answer); (3) the event between the end of a period and the beginning of the next cycle (binary outcome: correct vs. wrong answer); ...

Young women's accounts of factors influencing their use and non-use of emergency contraception: in-depth interview study

BMJ, 2002

To explore young women's accounts of their use and non-use of emergency contraception. Design Qualitative study using in-depth interviews. Participants 30 women aged 16-25; participants from socially deprived inner city areas were specifically included. Setting Community, service, and educational settings in England. Results Young women's accounts of their non-use of emergency contraception principally concerned evaluations of the risk conferred by different contraceptive behaviours, their evaluations of themselves in needing emergency contraception, and personal difficulties in asking for emergency contraception. Conclusions The attitudes and concerns of young women, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, may make them less able or willing than others to take advantage of recent increases in access to emergency contraception. Interventions that aim to increase the use of emergency contraception need to address the factors that influence young women's non-use of emergency contraception.

Knowledge and consumption of emergency contraception pills in a tertiary education student population

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Determining factors for condom use: A survey of young Italian adults

European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care, 2010

Objective To identify factors that can hinder condom use in a sample of young adults. Methods The survey was carried out using a self-administered standardised anonymous questionnaire modified from the self-efficacy scale Condom Use Skill Measure. The questionnaire was administered to 1091 school-leavers who were attending a pre-university study course in August 2008 at Bari University, Italy. Results Of those interviewed, 88% had had sexual intercourse and the average age at the first experience was 16.8 years. The frequency of condom use at the most recent sexual intercourse was 52.6%. Non-condom use was associated with not having a condom immediately available, with problems in the partner accepting this particular barrier method, with the belief that proposing its use could lead to problems between the couple, with the assumption of not risking anything, with the fear that it causes irritation and with the belief that it does not feel natural. Conclusion Our survey shows that there are opinions and attitudes held by young adults which hinder condom use. They should be a targeted by health education.

Emergency contraception and risk habits in a university population

The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care, 2018

Objective: The aim of our study was to determine the self-reported prevalence of use of emergency contraception (EC), identify factors associated with EC use, and measure the prevalence in university students of pregnancy and abortion among users and non-users of EC. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of university students using a self-administered questionnaire was carried out in 2016. The main dependent variable was EC use at any time. Independent variables included sociodemographic factors and factors related to harmful habits and sexual behaviour. Results: The study sample consisted of 1309 students (median age 20 years). Forty per cent of participants reported using EC; condom failure was given as the main reason. Variables associated with EC use in both men and women were illegal drug consumption and having had more than 10 sexual partners. In women, other factors associated with EC use were age at first coitus and non-centrist political views. The prevalence of pregnancy was 6.5% and the prevalence of voluntary abortion was 2.9%. This prevalence was similar for men and women and for EC users and non-users. Conclusion: EC use in university students was more likely in those who experienced contraceptive failure or used no contraception. There were differences between men and women. Those at higher risk of unplanned pregnancy were more likely to report EC use, which may explain why there was no difference in the rates of unwanted pregnancies between EC users and non-users.

Emergency contraception among Finnish adolescents: awareness, use and the effect of non-prescription status

BMC Public Health, 2007

Background: Adolescents need to be aware that there is a method of preventing pregnancy even after an unprotected intercourse. Limited information is available on the awareness of young adolescents and the effects of selling emergency contraception (EC) over-the-counter, and the findings are controversial. The aims of this study were to investigate awareness and use of EC among Finnish girls aged 12-18 years in 1999-2003, and to assess the effect of the 2002 nonprescription status on the use.

Turkish Adolescents' Knowledge on and Attitude toward Emergency Contraception

Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, 2006

Objective: Adolescents tend to be at risk for unwanted pregnancies, so detecting their level of knowledge on emergency contraception and providing them information is important to prevent such pregnancies. Hence, in two faculties at Gazi University, this study aimed to detect freshman students' level and need of knowledge on emergency contraception and to evaluate their attitude towards emergency contraception.