A gendered study of young adult contraceptive use at one university in KwaZulu-N atal

Abstract

This study explores contraceptive use among young adult male and female students (aged 18-25) who visit the campus clinic at a university in KwaZulu-Natal. Both a descriptive survey and face to face interviews were used for data collection.<br /> In this study, it is affirmed that gender stratification, societal attitudes, and misconceptions about contraceptive use play an important role in the attitudes of young adults, male and female towards contraception and its use. Evidence of this is the high use of condoms amongst both male and female students’ compared with other available methods. Among female students this was highly attributed to personal convenience and comfort with condom use as an unmarried young woman. It was clear from the data collected that respondents themselves attached some stigma to being associated with the use of contraceptive pills or having to visit the clinic regularly for injections as young unmarried women. Male respondents affirmed the use of the condom, although this was hardly with the view of taking reproductive/contraceptive responsibility, but rather, it was attributed to the function of the condom as a safe sex method that offered protection against sexually transmitted diseases and infections. Also evident from the study was the fact that male respondents felt more comfortable with their sexual functioning than the female respondents. This was easily attributed to the role of societal gender stratification in an individual’s life

Knowledge, attitude and practices of contraception among married women

“…Similar results were shown in other study as well. [20][21][22] In contrast, study conducted by Musarrat Jabeen et al, commonly used methods were traditional, injectable & female sterilization which is different from the work of Seema et al 6,7 Though majority of women had knowledge about contraceptives only 48.5% female and 44.5 % male had positive attitude towards contraception as stated by their wives, whereas study conducted by Zangmu Sherpa et al, 87.5% had positive attitude.…”

Contraception Needs and Its Usage Amongst Rural Women of India

“…Tubal ligation followed by Condom were the most common chosen method used by 34.48% and 25.86%of couples compared to 50.18% tubal ligation, 16.7% vasectomy 15.6% condoms as shown in other studies as well. 21,22,23,12 Oral pills were used by 12.06% of women in comparison with 11.3%, 10% in studies of Pakistan and 4% in Indian study. 13,21,12 Non-users in this study were 42% similar to 55%, 44.6% and 47% in study by Srinivasan et al, Prachi et al and Rozina et al respectively 10,14,13 Lack of knowledge is the main reason for not using contraception as in various Indian studies but opposite to in various other studies where partners opposition was the main reason for not using contraception.…”

The Sexual Acceptability of Contraception: Reviewing the Literature and Building a New Concept

“…A number of researchers have also documented the multitude of sexual and contraceptive scripts within countries, with variation by race/ethnicity, social class, and age cohort (Chen, 2008;Gillmore, Chen, Haas, Kopak, & Robillard, 2011;Sandberg, 2011). For example, cultural differences exist in the degree to which people uphold the virgin/whore dichotomy for women (Gubrium & Torres, 2013) or the degree to which women are sexually stigmatized for using contraception or carrying condoms (Oyedeji & Cassimjee, 2006). Taken cumulatively, these studies remind us that various layers of the sexual acceptability model will take on different profiles for people in different circumstances, either within or across cultures.…”