title: The role of knowledge in the contraceptive behaviour of sexually active young people in state care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the role of sex-focused knowledge in the contraceptive behaviour of sexually active young people in state care.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 19 care leavers (young people previously in state care) aged 18-22 years, 16 females and 3 males. In-depth interviewing was the method of data collection, and a qualitative strategy resembling modified analytical induction was used to analyse data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings indicated that a lack of information was not the sole or even the primary reason for engaging in unsafe sexual practices. Other factors such as ambivalence to becoming pregnant also featured in participants' accounts. Several participants conveyed a relatively weak sense of agency about consistently using contraception. A small number of participants expressed a strong determination to avoid pregnancy, and these appeared to have a level of anxiety about becoming pregnant that motivated them to engage with knowledge about contraception and its use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lack of sex-focused information is just one aspect of a myriad of complex factors, including socioeconomic disadvantage and/or emotional deprivation, that influence contraceptive behaviour.
authors.affiliation: University College Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: abbey.hyde@ucd.ie.
authors.forename: Abbey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hyde
authors.affiliation: Insights Health and Social Research, UK.
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fullerton
authors.affiliation: Queen's University Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lohan
authors.affiliation: Queen's University Belfast, UK.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Macdonald
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003267:Contraception; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D005260:Female; D006076:Government; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007872:Legal Guardians; D008297:Male; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012736:Sex Education; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Contraception; Looked-after young people; Sexual health; Young people in care