Attitudes towards contraceptive pill use in two different populations in Thrace, Greece

Current contraceptive awareness and use in Greek dental school students

AIMS

We conducted a pilot study in female dental school students in Northern Greece in order to assess their awareness and practice of contraception.

METHODS

The study population consisted of 88 female graduating students of the dental school. A self-administered, anonymous questionnaire was designed to explore students' awareness and use of contraceptive methods.

RESULTS

Condoms were the most widely used contraceptive method (they were used by 52.3% of the students); 20.5% of the students were using condoms in alternation or together with coitus interruptus, and 6.8% were using only coitus interruptus. The oral contraceptive pill (OC) was used as the only contraceptive method by 4.5% of the students and in combination with condoms by 9.1% of them. The majority (53.4%) considered condoms as the most effective contraceptive method; 9.1% of the students answered "sterilization" and the same percentage stated "intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD)." Overall, 20.5% of the students believed that the OC increases the risk of cancer, and 36.4% did not know if there is an association between OC use and risk of cancer. Among students not using OC, the respective percentages were 23.7% and 42.1%. among the students, 59.1% had asked their gynecologist about contraception. The contraceptive method used and the perception regarding the most effective contraceptive method did not differ significantly between those who had consulted their gynecologist and those who had not.

CONCLUSIONS

Dental school students in Greece appear to have inaccurate knowledge on important contraceptive issues, and this is reflected in their contraceptive practices. There is a pressing need to provide scientifically based sexual education if we are to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

Knowledge and practice of contraception among Greek female medical students

OBJECTIVE

In Greece, modern contraceptive methods are used on a limited scale. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge as well as the practice of contraception among female medical students in Greece.

STUDY DESIGN

Knowledge and practice of contraception of 102 female graduating medical students were assessed with a self-administered, anonymous questionnaire.

RESULTS

Most students were using condoms as the only contraceptive method (45.1%) and 16.7% were not applying any contraceptive method at all. Oral contraceptives were used as only contraceptive means by 4.9% of the students and in combination with condoms by another 4.9%. Condoms were thought to be the most effective contraceptive method available by 28.4% of the students, whereas 4.9% responded that they did not consider any contraceptive method to be effective. Only 55.9% of the students had ever asked their gynaecologist about contraception.

CONCLUSION

Much more time should be spent in teaching contraception in the Greek medical schools to ensure the delivery of adequate family planning guidance by future practitioners.