title: A study on knowledge, attitude and practice of contraception among college students in Sikkim, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of contraception among the college students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was conducted in the Government College, Gangtok, Sikkim, during the month of April 2009 to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of contraception among 156 students enrolled in the first year bachelor course. Descriptive statistics was used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  98% (153/156) of the students had knowledge about family planning and 86% (134/156) of them had heard about contraceptives. Most of them knew about condoms (85%) and contraceptive pills (40%) but knowledge about permanent methods and Cu-T was poor (average 12%). Most students thought contraceptives were to be used to prevent unwanted pregnancy (35%) and for birth spacing (30%). 11% of students had used some form of contraceptive in the past and 7% were currently users. The most commonly used contraceptives were condoms, followed by combined use of OCP and condom.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study highlights the need to motivate the youth for effective and appropriate use of contraceptives when required and arrest the trend towards unwanted pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Melaka Manipal Medical College, Melaka, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Prachi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Renjhen
authors.affiliation: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Ashwini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pattanshetty
authors.affiliation: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Afrin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sagir
authors.affiliation: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India.
authors.forename: Charmaine Minoli
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Samarasinghe
keywords: Family planning; contraception; knowledge; practice