The socioeconomic and lifestyle determinants of contraceptive use among Chinese college students: a cross-sectional study

doi:10.1186/s12978-020-00978-9

. 2020 Aug 17;17(1):125.

doi: 10.1186/s12978-020-00978-9.

The socioeconomic and lifestyle determinants of contraceptive use among Chinese college students: a cross-sectional study

Yuqi Wang^{1

2}, Minne Chen³, Shihui Tan⁴, Xueqi Qu⁵, Hanyu Wang², Xiao Liang⁶, Junjian Gaoshan⁷, Lihe Li⁶, Ping Hong⁶, Li Jiang⁸, Kun Tang⁹

Affiliations

¹ Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Zhongguancun North Street, Haidian District, Beijing, 100084, China.
² School of Health Humanities, Peking University, No 38 Xueyuan Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.
³ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
⁴ School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, No 38 Xueyuan Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.
⁵ School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
⁶ China Family Planning Association, Building 35, Shaoyaoju Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China.
⁷ United Nations Population Fund China, Liangmahe Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China.
⁸ Peking University People's Hospital, 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China.
⁹ Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Zhongguancun North Street, Haidian District, Beijing, 100084, China. tangk@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.

PMID: 32807181
PMCID: PMC7433035
DOI: 10.1186/s12978-020-00978-9

The socioeconomic and lifestyle determinants of contraceptive use among Chinese college students: a cross-sectional study

Yuqi Wang et al. Reprod Health. 2020.

. 2020 Aug 17;17(1):125.

doi: 10.1186/s12978-020-00978-9.

Authors

Yuqi Wang^{1

2}, Minne Chen³, Shihui Tan⁴, Xueqi Qu⁵, Hanyu Wang², Xiao Liang⁶, Junjian Gaoshan⁷, Lihe Li⁶, Ping Hong⁶, Li Jiang⁸, Kun Tang⁹

Affiliations

¹ Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Zhongguancun North Street, Haidian District, Beijing, 100084, China.
² School of Health Humanities, Peking University, No 38 Xueyuan Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.
³ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
⁴ School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, No 38 Xueyuan Rd, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.
⁵ School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA.
⁶ China Family Planning Association, Building 35, Shaoyaoju Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China.
⁷ United Nations Population Fund China, Liangmahe Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China.
⁸ Peking University People's Hospital, 11 Xizhimen South Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, 100044, China.
⁹ Vanke School of Public Health, Tsinghua University, Zhongguancun North Street, Haidian District, Beijing, 100084, China. tangk@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.

PMID: 32807181
PMCID: PMC7433035
DOI: 10.1186/s12978-020-00978-9

Abstract

Background: Chinese youth have become more sexually active over the years, yet their behaviours of contraceptive use are influenced by socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. This study aimed to investigate the socioeconomic and lifestyle determinants of contraceptive use among Chinese college students, and to investigate quantitatively their reasons for choosing different contraceptive methods.

Methods: The study used the data from a cross-sectional survey, which was conducted in 2015 among 17,517 students from 130 colleges and professional schools in mainland China. Chi-square tests were performed to test the differences in the awareness and uses of contraceptives between male and female students. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyse the associations between socioeconomic and lifestyle factors and contraceptive uses.

Results: Condoms (95%), oral contraceptives (91%) and emergency contraceptives (71%) were the most commonly known contraceptive methods among the sample of Chinese youth that were surveyed. Among male participants, high monthly expenditure (OR = 1.37, 95%CI: 1.07-1.75), light alcohol consumption (OR = 1.47, 95%CI: 1.03-2.11), and high sexual knowledge (OR = 1.96, 95%CI: 1.57-2.45) were positively associated with contraceptive uses, while tobacco use (OR = 0.47, 95%CI: 0.23-0.95) showed a negative association with contraceptive uses. Among female students, suburban residency (OR = 1.38, 95%CI: 1.03-1.83), high level of parental education (OR = 1.96, 95%CI: 1.19-3.22), moderate alcohol consumption (OR = 2.66, 95%CI: 1.05-6.77), and high sexual knowledge (OR = 1.50, 95%CI: 1.18-1.91) were positively associated with contraceptive uses, while tobacco use (OR = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.36-0.99) showed a negative association.

Conclusions: A series of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors were associated with contraceptive choices among Chinese college students. Targeted sexual education programs are in demand to improve the awareness and the use of contraceptives in this population.

Keywords: Chinese youth; Contraception; Sexual behaviours; Socioeconomic and lifestyle determinants.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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References

1. Tang L, Chen R, Huang D, Wu H, Yan H, Li S, et al. Prevalence of condom use and associated factors among Chinese female undergraduate students in Wuhan, China. AIDS Care - Psychol Socio-Medical Asp AIDS/HIV. AIDS Care. 2013;25:515–523. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2012.720360. - DOI - PubMed
1. Singh S, Sedgh G, Hussain R. Unintended Pregnancy: Worldwide Levels, Trends, and Outcomes. Stud Fam Plann. Stud Fam Plan. 2010;41:241–250. doi: 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2010.00250.x. - DOI - PubMed
1. Goodburn EA, Ross DA. A picture of health? : A review and annotated bibliography of the health of young people in developing countries [internet] Organ: World Heal; 1995.
1. Kost K, Singh S, Vaughan B, Trussell J, Bankole A. Estimates of contraceptive failure from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. Contraception. 2008;77:10–21. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2007.09.013. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Zhou H, Wang XY, Ye F, Gu HH, Zeng X, Pei L, Wang Y. Contraceptive knowledge, attitudes and behavior about sexuality among college students in Beijing, China. Chin Med J. 2012;125:1153–1157. - PubMed

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[1] Tang L, Chen R, Huang D, Wu H, Yan H, Li S, et al. Prevalence of condom use and associated factors among Chinese female undergraduate students in Wuhan, China. AIDS Care - Psychol Socio-Medical Asp AIDS/HIV. AIDS Care. 2013;25:515–523. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2012.720360. - DOI - PubMed

[2] Tang L, Chen R, Huang D, Wu H, Yan H, Li S, et al. Prevalence of condom use and associated factors among Chinese female undergraduate students in Wuhan, China. AIDS Care - Psychol Socio-Medical Asp AIDS/HIV. AIDS Care. 2013;25:515–523. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2012.720360. - DOI - PubMed

[3] Singh S, Sedgh G, Hussain R. Unintended Pregnancy: Worldwide Levels, Trends, and Outcomes. Stud Fam Plann. Stud Fam Plan. 2010;41:241–250. doi: 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2010.00250.x. - DOI - PubMed

[4] Singh S, Sedgh G, Hussain R. Unintended Pregnancy: Worldwide Levels, Trends, and Outcomes. Stud Fam Plann. Stud Fam Plan. 2010;41:241–250. doi: 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2010.00250.x. - DOI - PubMed

[5] Goodburn EA, Ross DA. A picture of health? : A review and annotated bibliography of the health of young people in developing countries [internet] Organ: World Heal; 1995.

[6] Goodburn EA, Ross DA. A picture of health? : A review and annotated bibliography of the health of young people in developing countries [internet] Organ: World Heal; 1995.

[7] Kost K, Singh S, Vaughan B, Trussell J, Bankole A. Estimates of contraceptive failure from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. Contraception. 2008;77:10–21. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2007.09.013. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[8] Kost K, Singh S, Vaughan B, Trussell J, Bankole A. Estimates of contraceptive failure from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. Contraception. 2008;77:10–21. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2007.09.013. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[9] Zhou H, Wang XY, Ye F, Gu HH, Zeng X, Pei L, Wang Y. Contraceptive knowledge, attitudes and behavior about sexuality among college students in Beijing, China. Chin Med J. 2012;125:1153–1157. - PubMed

[10] Zhou H, Wang XY, Ye F, Gu HH, Zeng X, Pei L, Wang Y. Contraceptive knowledge, attitudes and behavior about sexuality among college students in Beijing, China. Chin Med J. 2012;125:1153–1157. - PubMed

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The socioeconomic and lifestyle determinants of contraceptive use among Chinese college students: a cross-sectional study

Affiliations

The socioeconomic and lifestyle determinants of contraceptive use among Chinese college students: a cross-sectional study

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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Cited by

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MeSH terms

Grants and funding

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