Les principaux facteurs décisionnels relatifs à l'utilisation contraceptive chez des adolescentes

Authors

  • Denise Moreau

Abstract

Factors influencing adolescents' decision to use contraceptives Adolescents are becoming sexually active an an increasingly young age. Many of them engage in sexual relations without contraception, despite the availability of information and contraceptive methods. The decision, whether or not to use a contraceptive, is influenced by numerous factors. The purpose of this study was to identify some of these main decision-making factors associated with the use of contraceptives among CEGEP adolescents. Following a literature review, a questionnaire was formulated, adpated from Miller's (1978) decision-making model. The questionnaire collected data on the psycho-socio-cognative factors influencing the adolescent's decision-making process. A French translation of the "Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale" (R.SES. 1965) measured the level of the adolescent's self-esteem. A translation of Version A of the "Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) (Wallston, et al, 1978) was used to determine the origin of the adolescent's locus of control. Of 131 adolescents who volunteered for the study, 9 were disqualified for various reasons. The final sample included 122 adolescents. Three cohorts were formed on the basis of the following criteria: sexual activity and the use of contraceptives. The dependent variable was the use of contraceptives and the independent variables were: perception of sex, pregnancy and contraception; sexual history; knowledge of the body and of contraception; self-esteem; and the origin of the locus of control. The results indicate that perception of sex, pregnancy and contraception have the greatest influence on the decision concerning contraception. The sexual history of sexually active adolescents varies with the use of contraceptives. But within the framework of this study, cognitive aspects - the level of self-esteem and the origin of the locus of control - do not influence the decision and were not different among the adolescent groups. These results demonstrate that adolescents have sufficient knowledge of sexuality and contraception and that the level of their knowledge has little effect on their decision. Nurses should maintain and even improve the information provided. But to really help adolescents decide whether to use contraceptives, their perception of sexuality, pregnancy and contraception must be influenced. Thus, the nurse should take an educational rather than informative approach. She must relate to the sexual life of adolescents.

Published

1985-04-13

Issue

Section

Articles