Knowledge of Contraception and Safe Sex Among Students at Cantho University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Viet Nam

Abstract

Background: Viet Nam was one of the countries with the highest abortion rate in the world, of which about 70% were of the adolescents. Nowadays, students at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy are facing many problems related to reproductive health such as unwanted pregnancy, abortion, sexually transmitted diseases, homosexuality... Objectives: To determine the proportion of medical students at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy have correct knowledge about contraceptive methods and safe sex and its related factors. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study with analysis was carried out on 370 first-year, second-year and third-year general medicine students who were studying at Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy at the age of 18-24. Results: The results showed that the rates of students had a high knowlege of contraception and practicing safe sex were 8.38% and 28.65% respectively. The statistically significant factors include: For students with high knowledge about contraception: having already taken a Reproductive Health module, learning from internet by themselves and joining Union/Association activities; For students with high knowledge about safe sex: having a hometown in an urban area; learning from newspaper and books, home schooling, friends and general knowledges. Conclusion: Students’ knowledge about contraceptive methods was not good. Students' knowledge about safe sex was quite good. Related factors to high knowledge about contraception and safe sex of students: having already taken a Reproductive Health module, having a hometown in an urban area, joining Union/Association activities, learning from internet, newspaper and books, home schooling, friends and general knowledges.