[A survey on contraceptive knowledge, attitude and behavior among never-married young women who are seeking pregnancy termination in Beijing].
OBJECTIVE
To identify contraceptive knowledge, attitude, behavior and its determinants among never-married young women who have unwanted pregnancy in Beijing.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study under adoption of Lawrence "Procede-Proceed" model, was conducted in China in 1999. Three hundred and six unmarried young women aged 18 to 24, requesting for pregnancy termination were interviewed in person.


RESULTS
Findings of this study indicated that only one-eighth (13%) of the young women insisted on contraceptive use every time, and almost an equal proportion (26.4%, 26.8% respectively) occasionally or never using contraceptives. Among 224 women who ever used contraceptives during the past 12 months, condom (49%) ranked the first place followed by withdrawal (27.7%) and the rhythm method (15.6%). One of the most important reasons, cited by 73 percent of women who had never used contraceptives, was that they were not aware of the risk of pregnancy when engaging in sexual activities. The results of logistic regression analysis revealed that knowledge about contraception, boyfriend's approval of contraceptive use, perceived the risk of getting pregnancy, perceived availability of contraceptive service and discussion of contraception with boyfriend were important indicators of young women's behavior on contraceptive use.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicated an urgent need to develop sex education about contraception among young women and men, through enhancing perception about risk of unwanted pregnancy and complications of induced abortion among young women, and to promote men's co-operation and participation in contraceptive use as well as strengthening communication on contraception between young women and their partners.
Wu
J
J
Research and Training Center for Women's and Children's Health, First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing 100034, China.
Rauyajin
O
O
Good
S
S
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003267:Contraception; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior