title: Predictors of contraception knowledge and use among postpartum adolescents in El Salvador.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to describe demographics and contraceptive familiarity and use among postpartum adolescents in El Salvador.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire-guided interviews were conducted in Spanish with 50 postpartum adolescents at an urban, public hospital in El Salvador. Open-ended questions included assessments of education, partnership status, and contraceptive knowledge and use patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median age of subjects was 17 years, 84% were nulliparous, 80% had partners, and 6% were married. Eighty-four percent of the women reported contraception knowledge and 18% reported contraception use. Educational experience and literacy predicted contraceptive knowledge (P = .008 and .001, respectively), but not use. After delivery and postpartum contraception education, 58% of the subjects stated intention to use contraception. Having a partner and living with him were predictors of intent to use contraception (P = .001 and .002, respectively). Being single negatively predicted intention to use contraception (P = .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Education and literacy predicted contraceptive knowledge; however, contraceptive knowledge did not predict contraceptive use. Adolescent contraception use depends on more than just contraceptive knowledge.
authors.affiliation: Hospital San Juan de Dios, San Miguel, El Salvador.
authors.forename: Sara J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Newmann
authors.forename: Alisa B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aviles
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Molina de Perez
authors.forename: Anne F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Foster-Rosales
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003267:Contraception; D004493:Education; D004522:Educational Status; D004544:El Salvador; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires