Contraceptive knowledge, contraceptive use, and pregnancy risk experience among young Manawatu women.
The contraceptive knowledge, use, and desire for information of never-married Manawatu women aged 16-19 years were examined, distinguishing between respondents with and without pregnancy risk (coital) experience. Overall, 45.7% of the women had ever been at risk, the percentage varying positively with age. Awareness of contraceptive methods (especially the pill and condom) was widespread, particularly among the sexually experienced, a higher percentage of whom had also ever wanted and sought contraceptive information. Women who had never been at risk were less knowledgeable, fewer had ever wanted information (19.3%) and about one-third knew of no source of contraceptive information. Few (7.9%) of the sexually experienced had never used any contraceptive methods but others (19.9%) had not yet employed an effective female method. These results, akin to previous studies, indicate a need for school-based sex education.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003075:Coitus; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D012736:Sex Education; D012847:Single Person