Attitudes toward contraceptive & utilization among university students in the Dominican Republic

• Main Authors: Miguel A. Pérez, Irene Rios, Aricel Pérez Navarro
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Faculdade de Ciências e Educação Sena Aires 2018-09-01
• Series: REVISA
• Subjects: métodos contraceptivos; doenças sexualmente transmissíveis; gravidez indesejada; comportamento de alto risco entre jovens adultos; atitudes.
• Online Access: http://revistafacesa.senaaires.com.br/index.php/revisa/article/view/343
• ISSN: 2316-848X; 2179-0981

<p>We investigated university students’ attitudes and perceptions toward the use of contraceptives in the Dominican Republic using the Contraceptive Attitude Scale<span style="text-decoration: line-through;">.</span>This is a quantitative descriptive study designed to examine attitudes toward and use of contraceptives among university students in the Dominican Republic. Data were collected using the Contraceptive Attitude Scale from randomly selected University students at a medium sized university in the eastern part of the Dominican Republic. Findings from this study suggests gender differences related to perceived contraceptive use necessity, consequences, encouragement, and trouble with usage.  Differences were also found based on years at the university in regard to feelings and reasons towards contraceptive use, and differences among ages with topics including contraceptive encouragement among friends and preference to use contraceptives. Findings suggest the need to improve social norms and perceptions about contraceptives as a strategy designed to increase use among university-aged students. Focusing on contraceptive and sexual education at the university level through peer educators, self-esteem building, and specific interventions with females could assist in improving the overall health of young adults in the Dominican Republic.</p>