Comparison of knowledge and attitudes to oral hormonal contraception among students of two selected university-level schools

Introduction. According to Public Opinion Research Centre surveys, Polish society is increasingly likely to accept oral contraception as
a method for preventing unintended pregnancies. As many as 71% of Poles currently accept this method. The aim of this study was to
compare the knowledge and attitudes of students at two university-level schools regarding oral hormonal contraception.

Material and methods. The sample consisted of 259 third-year B.A. students, including 87 students of obstetrics, 48 students of emergency
medical care, 41 students of computer science, and 83 students of environmental engineering. The anonymous and voluntary surveys
employed a questionnaire designed by the authors containing 37 single- or multiple-choice closed questions and 8 semi-open questions.
The statistical analysis was based on the Kruskall-Wallis test for non-parametric data (p £ 0.05).

Results. The students most often found out about oral hormonal contraception from on-line sources. Students of obstetrics and environmental
engineering relied on the internet for information more often (p < 0.001). All students of obstetrics knew that oral hormonal contraceptives
are available on prescription only. Students of computer science also declared knowing nothing about this subject significantly
more frequently (p < 0.001). Students of obstetrics and emergency medical care agreed with the statement that oral hormonal contraception
does not prevent STDs. Approximately 10% of students of the Warsaw Institute of Technology declared knowing nothing about this
topic (p < 0.01). Students of Warsaw Medical University declared significantly more frequently than students of the Warsaw Institute of
Technology that oral hormonal contraception has other uses than the prevention of unintended pregnancies.

Conclusions. Since the study group of university students had insufficient knowledge of oral hormonal contraception and in view of the
fact that most university students search on-line for information about contraceptives, a professional on-line website on oral hormonal
contraception should be launched that would contain objective information based on the latest research findings.

Nursing Topics 2011; 19 (1): 99–108