title: Communication about contraception and knowledge of oral contraceptives amongst Norwegian high school students.
abstract: Communication about contraception and specific knowledge of oral contraceptives (OCs) were examined in a sample (n = 4,650) of Norwegian high school students. Data were collected through a 44-item questionnaire especially developed for the study. The response rate was 73% and data from a total of 1,714 girls and 1,389 boys were eligible for analyses. More females (83%) than males (54%) discussed contraception at least monthly. Discussions were predominantly held with peers and not adults. Females were far more knowledgeable about OCs than males. Respondents knew more about side effects and the pill's relative efficacy than about risks of cancer and tromboembolism. The most significant predictors of high knowledge scores were gender and OC use (females). Also predictive of high knowledge scores were frequent discussions about contraception with peers. Talks about contraception with health workers were unrelated to knowledge scores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, SINTEF Unimed, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Finn Egil
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Skjeldestad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003142:Communication; D003267:Contraception; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013334:Students
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral