title: Attitudes of adolescent girls towards contraceptive methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There has been a growing interest in patterns of contraceptive use among adolescents, due, in particular, to the social relevance attached to pregnancy in this age group. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate factors associated with the use of contraceptive methods among female adolescent students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted, by means of selfapplied questionnaires, among 500 adolescent girls ranging from 15to 19 years of age. Prevalence with respect to the knowledge of contraceptive methods, condom use, and AIDS was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 500 students who participated in study only one was sexually active .The factors associated with knowledge lack and misconception are less discussion at home or at school or college level. There were many negative beliefs like impotence after condom use, weakness after sterilization, fear of becoming obese as reasons for choosing different contraceptive methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results confirm the there is a need for reproductive health education in school and college as well as robust research to determine the contraceptive needs of adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Asst. Prof., Physiology ,  Department of Physiology, Medical College, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, INDIA.
authors.forename: Chinmay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Vipul
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Solanki
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Mehta
keywords: Adolescent; Contraception; Knowledge; attitudes