Factors related to choosing oral contraception at age 15

Abstract

This report aims to identify factors which are related to use of oral contraceptives at an early age. A self-administered questionnaire was completed at schools in 1988 and 1992 in southern and western Finland (N = 1339). Sexually experienced girls (mean age 15.8 years) who had answered the question concerning their oral contraceptive use were included (N = 389). Logistic regression analysis was used to compare oral contraceptive users (N = 121) with the group of non-users. Total number of coital experiences was associated with oral contraceptive use: the odds ratio for those having at least 10 coital experiences was 6.30 compared with those with only one intercourse. The proportion was 73% among oral contraceptive users and 30% among non-users. Girls using oral contraceptives perceived more often (67%) that parents accept their sexual relationship (30% among non-users). Oral contraceptive users were less afraid of getting pregnant (9% compared with 31% among non-users) and felt more often that sex was very important in their life (31 and 13%, respectively). Other factors that entered the model were age at menarche, having a steady partner and frequency of disco visits. When a young girl asks for oral contraceptives, she is probably at true risk of pregnancy, and regular contraception should be considered both in view of effective prevention of pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

PIP: 1339 ninth grade girls aged 15-16 years from schools in southern and western Finland were administered questionnaires on maturation, relationships, dating, and sexual behaviors during 1988 and 1992. 389 sexually experienced girls of mean age 15.8 years who answered the question on oral contraceptive (OC) use were included in the analysis of which factors are related to the use of OC at an early age. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare the 121 OC users with nonusers. The total number of coital experiences was found to be associated with OC use. Specifically, the odds ratio for OC use among girls having at least 10 coital experiences was 6.30 compared to girls who had experienced only one episode of intercourse. 73% of OC users and 30% of nonusers had engaged in at least 10 acts of sexual intercourse. 67% and 30% of girls using OC and not using OC, respectively, felt that their parents accepted their sexual relationship. Only 9% of OC users feared becoming pregnant compared to 31% of nonusers. 31% and 13% of OC users and nonusers, respectively, felt sex to be very important to them. Low age at menarche, having a steady dating partner, and infrequent visits to discos were positively associated with OC use.