CONTRACEPTIVE USE AND ATTITUDES OF MALE COLLEGE STUDENTS
Abstract
Young adults in the United States have a high rate of unintended pregnancies.
Specifically, this is a problem in the college setting, because this population has the
highest rates of unintended pregnancies due to lack of contraceptive use and unsafe
sexual practices (Bryant, 2009). Unintended pregnancies can lead to poor health
outcomes for the parent, as well as the child. Since most college students are sexually
active, contraceptive education is extremely important for healthcare providers to
address with this population to help decrease unintended pregnancy rates.
The purpose of this study was to examine the contraceptive attitudes and
demographic characteristics among a group of male college students and to identify the
varying characteristics between three different groups of contraceptive users. The final
sample consisted of 53 male college students who were sexually active within the past
three months. Participants completed a demographic data/contraceptive use
questionnaire and the Contraceptive Attitude Scale (1998) as developed by Dr. Kelly
Black. A quantitative, comparative descriptive design was used in this study. After data
collection, participants were divided into three groups: (a) uninterrupted contraceptive
users, (b) intermittent contraceptive users, and (c) contraceptive nonusers. The
contraceptive attitudes and demographic characteristics of each group were compared.
Demographic data was also compared with Contraceptive Attitude scores. The Theory
of Reasoned Action combined with the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1991) was
used as the theoretical framework for this study.
No significant difference in demographic characteristics and contraceptive
attitudes for race, age, marital status, class level, religion, and income between the
contraceptive groups was found. A majority of the participants had a positive attitude
regarding contraceptives. Men in the uninterrupted contraceptive user group had a
higher mean contraceptive attitude score than intermittent users and nonusers. The
results of this study may help healthcare providers to identify men at risk and provide
necessary education to increase contraceptive use and, hopefully, decrease rates of
unintended pregnancy.
Subject
Contraception
Contraceptives
Male college students - Hygiene and health
Permanent Link
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/48044Description
Clinical Paper Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science in Nursing Clinical Nurse Leader