Sexual intercourse and current contraceptive use among university students in Finland.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the current frequency of sexual intercourse, the current use of contraceptives, the ever use of emergency contraception, and the ever experience of condom failure among Finnish university students.


METHODS
The study population consisted of Finnish undergraduate university students (19-34 years of age) in 2004. The randomly selected sample comprised 5030 subjects. The data were collected by postal questionnaire, the response rate being 62.7%. Data were presented with frequency distributions and cross-tabulations. Chi-square test was used. Frequencies for women and men were presented and tested separately.


RESULTS
A total of 80% of students were currently practicing sexual intercourse. Approximately half of the female students currently used hormonal contraception and one-third used a condom. Almost half of the men currently used a condom. The simultaneous use of condom and hormonal contraception was rare. Condom failure was common. The ever use of emergency contraception appeared to be associated with condom failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Of Finnish university students 80% were sexually active and hormonal contraceptives were the most popular method of contraception among female students. The use of the condom should be practiced more often for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.
Virtala
Aira M
AM
Finnish Student Health Service, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland. aira.virtala@fimnet.fi
Kunttu
Kristina
K
Huttunen
Teppo A
TA
Virjo
Irma O
IO
D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D044363:Contraception, Postcoital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students
D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003272:Contraceptive Agents, Male