Young unmarried men's understanding of female hormonal contraception.
BACKGROUND
A better understanding of men's attitudes, norms and behaviors regarding women's use of hormonal contraception is needed.


METHODS
We conducted contraceptive life-history interviews with 41 ethnically diverse males ages 18-25 years which detailed up to six heterosexual relationships, focusing on knowledge, attitudes, norms and behaviors regarding hormonal contraception use, decision making and communication.


RESULTS
Men's attitudes, norms and behaviors associated with hormonal contraceptive decisions and use varied greatly across participants and their relationships. Findings suggest a mixture of attitudes and practices regarding the importance of communication around contraception influenced by sexual experiences, age and relationship type. Many men demonstrated limited knowledge about contraceptives and identified improving contraceptive knowledge as an essential step in facilitating contraceptive communication.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased awareness about young men's understanding of and perceived roles regarding hormonal contraception will help in designing services that address contraceptive adherence, contraceptive communication and incorrect or inadequate contraceptive knowledge.
Merkh
Rebecca D
RD
Research Department, Family Planning Council, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA. rebecca@familyplanning.org
Whittaker
Paul G
PG
Baker
Kaysee
K
Hock-Long
Linda
L
Armstrong
Kay
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D012847:Single Person / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal