title: Use and misuse of oral contraceptives by adolescents attending a free-standing clinic.
abstract: A total of 216 adolescents attending a free-standing clinic completed a questionnaire on oral contraceptive use. Over 80% knew the brand name of their pill and took it correctly from cycle to cycle. About a third had missed at least one pill in the previous three months. Those who took their pills irregularly were more likely to miss them. In the event of missing a pill only 25% would use additional contraceptive measures such as condoms. Over half thought that not menstruating was harmful. The pill-taking pattern in this group of adolescents does not appear to differ significantly from that in adults. Oral contraceptive packs containing 28 tablets (including placebos) appear to produce fewer cycle-to-cycle problems than packs containing 21 active tablets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Johannesburg Hospital, South Africa.
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Goldstuck
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hammar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Butchart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral