title: Adolescents' willingness to use the contraceptive vaginal ring.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess adolescents' attitudes towards the contraceptive vaginal ring (CVR). We also aimed to identify the factors associated with their willingness to use it.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study. Fifty-nine female volunteers, aged 14 to 18 years, were recruited in a clinical setting. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire collecting information on sexual and contraceptive history as well as personal and demographic data. After reading information describing the CVR, they were asked about their perceptions of and willingness to adopt this contraceptive method. We used a logistic regression model to assess factors associated with their willingness to use the CVR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our population was mostly composed of coitally experienced (86%), high school level (71%) adolescents living with their parents (97%). Only a minority (17%) were willing to use the CVR, while 39% remained undecided. Participants were concerned about experiencing vaginal discomfort and difficulty in inserting or removing the ring. They also feared that it would interfere with their sexual activities or cause urinary tract infections, leukorrhea, or vaginitis. Willingness to adopt the CVR increased with the number of contraceptive methods already used (OR = 1.92; P = 0.015) and was not associated with a lack of contraceptive compliance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A minority of adolescents are willing to use the CVR, but many are ambivalent. Health care professionals should focus on addressing concerns about vaginal insertion. Adolescents who tend to be the most interested in the CVR are those who have experience with a greater number of contraceptives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université Laval, Quebec QC.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maheux-Lacroix
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université Laval, Quebec QC.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leboeuf
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université Laval, Quebec QC.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dufresne
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Université Laval, Quebec QC.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dodin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003274:Contraceptive Devices, Female; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D057566:Self Report