INTRODUCTION

The use of contraceptives has been one of the controversies in the field of

Medicine since the past decades up to the present. It has been subject for debates

and arguments between different denominations and traditions in both majority and

minority groups. Since the past two decades, there is a remarkable growth in the

population of teenagers and young adults who involve in premarital sex.

This study will delve on the views and perceptions of the Mati Doctors College

(MDC) students on the use of contraceptives. This study attempts to determine the

use of reproductive health messages on the use of contraception among

undergraduates of Mati Doctors College, to ascertain the extent to which they have

knowledge of this issue and how it has influenced their attitudes.

A household random survey of 1,528 women aged between 15–49 years was

undertaken in Nigeria, to determine their knowledge, practice and perceptions of

contraception. The level of contraceptive awareness was high amongst the

respondents as 1411 (92.3%) of them had previously heard about contraception.

Majority (88%) of the respondents became aware of contraception in the last 14

years with 43.9% within the immediate past 5 years. Friends/relatives (40.6%),

followed by nurses (31.7%) and then doctors (17.3%) largely accounted for the

sources of awareness of contraception. The media (print and electronic) on the other

hand contributed only 10% of awareness. The most widely known contraceptives

were injectables (59.5%), condoms (42.2%), POP (39.2%) and OCP (34.0%).
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(Articles from Ghana Medical Journal are provided here courtesy of Ghana Medical

Association,http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2810247/ as of September

2009)

Internationally, current studies indicate that teenagers become sexually active

in early puberty. During this time, the teenager is faced with various challenges such

as the onset of menstruation in girls and wet dreams in boys (Roye & Balk,

1997:153). Compared to urban areas, the incidence of teenage pregnancy, abortion

and childbirth is significantly higher in rural areas (Bloom & Hall, 1999:296). These

teenagers become sexually active at an earlier stage and without using any form of

contraception (Allard-Hendren, 2002:159). However, during this ages, contraceptive

use is still not fully-understood, especially when they view contraceptives as a “ stuff

“ that only married couples or older people should use. Health care workers in the

Bushbuckridge district are greatly concerned about teenagers' perceptions on

contraception. Recommendations were made for the development of intervention

and health promotion programmes that could lead to a reduction in the incidence of

teenage pregnancies in this region. (Coluciello, 1998:14; Mawaba, 2000:32,

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6820/is-2_10/ai_n28321185/)

Nationally, Data from a 1993 survey in the Philippines indicate that, in the

aggregate, men and women have similar views of contraception. For example, 72%

of husbands and 77% of wives strongly approved of contraception, and at least half

believed that relatives and friends approved (although men were less likely than

women to think so). At the couple level, however, men's perceptions about

contraception often differ from those of their wives. A relatively large amount of
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disagreement exists about the importance of certain contraceptive attributes and the

extent to which these attributes apply to specific methods. This disagreement is

associated both with lower levels of contraceptive use and with greater conflict over

intentions to use contraceptives in the future. For example, when both spouses

approve of family planning in general, 81% of couples share the same intentions to

practice contraception in the future; but among couples who disagree over approval

of contraception, just 43% share intentions about future use. (http://serp-

p.pids.gov.ph/serp-p/details.php?pid=2024&param= as of May 4, 2010)

Locally, here in Mati, there is no study conducted yet with regards to

the student’s perception on the use of contraceptives.

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STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

1. What are the socio-demographic and socio-economic profiles of the

respondents?

2. Is there a relationship between religion and their views regarding the use of

contraceptives?

3. Is there a relationship between the source of family income and their views

regarding the use of contraceptives?

4. From where did you learn about contraceptives?

STATEMENT OF THE HYPOTHESES

1. There is no relationship between religion and their views regarding the use of

contraceptives?

2. There is no relationship between the source of family income and their views

regarding the use of contraceptives.

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SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

There are many new types of contraceptives available today. Both male and

female are turning to contraceptives for the reason that sexual intercourse is a

rampant thing in today’s society.

For this reason, this study is considered to be the highly significant especially

to students, because they are more likely to engage in premarital sex. This aims to

know the different perceptions of the MDC students, in order to gauge, who are the

ones who need further client-education regarding the use of contraceptives.

Students can benefit from this study through information which provide facts

regarding contraceptives. This will serve as a guide for the youth nowadays,

especially, they are now in the stage where curiosity and experimentation arises

about sexual explorations, which may lead to unwanted pregnancy and single

parenthood.

To the faculty, this study may provide awareness, they may also help educate

the students about the use of contraceptives, for it may greatly influence the life of

the students if they would not be responsible on the use of contraceptives.

To the administration, this study would serve as a reference or a guide about

the perceptions about the perceptions of the MDC students on the use of

contraceptives. Through this, the administration could help impose programs to

correct the misled perceptions of the students on the use of contraceptives.

To the future researchers, this would provide information on their study

related to this topic.

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For the researchers, this study could be a tremendous experience, for it could

pave the way for them to explore and know the students’ perception on the use of

contraceptives and as Nursing students, they could help correct the students’

misconceptions regarding the use of contraceptives by means of health teaching.

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CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The study’s independent variable represents the 13 types of contraceptives.

The moderator encompasses the socio-demographic profiles that provide

relationship between the independent variable to the independent variable to the

perception of the MDC students on the use of contraceptives. Dependent variable

shows the different effects on using the different types of contraceptives.

INDEPENDENT VARIABLE MODERATOR DEPENDENT

VARIABLE VARIABLE
1. Oral
Contraceptives/Pills Socio-demographic - Safety
2. Male Condom
profile - Effectiveness
3. IUD
4. Female Condom - Age - Ease of
5. Cervical Diaphragm - Gender Administration
6. Vaginal Spermicidal - Civil Status - Comfort and
7. Progesterone - Religion convenience
Injections/DEPOT Socio-economic profile
8. Calendar/Rhythm
- Source of
9. Silastic Intravaginal
Individual
Ring
Income/
10. Cervical Cap
- Allowance
11. Coitus Interruptus/
Withrawal
- Source of Family

12. Sterilization Income

13. Silastic
Implantations

Figure 1- Conceptual Framework

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Figure 1 shows the independent variable, moderator and dependent variable.

Independent variable includes the 13 types of contraceptives; oral

contraceptives/pills, male condom, IUD, female condom, cervical diaphragm, vaginal

spermicidal, progesterone injections/DEPOT, calendar/rhythm, silastic intravaginal

ring, cervical cap, coitus interruptus/withdrawal, sterilization, and silastic

implantations. Moderator variable shows the socio-demographic profile which

influence individuals to use the above mentioned contraceptives. Dependent

variable consists of effectiveness, safety, ease of administration, cost and availability

and comfort and convenience.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATION

The study focuses on the students of the Mati Doctors College and their

perceptions on the use of contraceptives.

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DEFINITION OF TERMS

Age – the length of time that one has existed; duration of life (e.g., 23 years of age)

Calendar/Rhythm – a contraceptive method based on the assumptions that ovulation

tends to occur 14 days (plus or minus 2 days) before the start of the next

menstrual period.

Cervical cap – is a thimble shaped flexible device that is made of latex and

comparatively smaller than the diaphragm. It is also inserted into the vagina

and sits securely on the cervix, blocking the entry of sperm.

Cervical diaphragm – is a dome shaped disc made of rubber that has a flexible body

and rim. It is inserted into the vagina and covers the cervix to prevent sperm

from entering the uterus.

Coitus interruptus/Withdrawal – sexual intercourse deliberately interrupted by

withdrawal of the penis from the vagina prior to ejaculation.

Comfort – a condition or feeling of pleasurable ease, well-being, and contentment.

Contraceptive – an agent that diminishes the likelihood of or prevents conception

Convenience – the quality of being suitable to one's comfort, purposes, or needs

Ease of administration – the condition of being comfortable upon administration

Effectiveness – the degree to which an instructional activity, innovation or

programme yields the desired instructional outcome

Female condom – the device inserted into the vagina by compressing the inner ring

and pushing it in. The ring at the closed end covers the cervix, and the sheath
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lines the walls of the vagina, outer ring remains outside the vagina, covering

the labia.

Intrauterine device – devices of plastic or metallic substance inserted into the uterus

to prevent conception.

Male condom – the male condom is a sheath that is rolled over the penis to prevent

semen from entering the vagina. Condoms are a barrier method of birth

control made of latex, polyurethane or lambskin, to be disposed of after each

use.

Oral contraceptive - any orally effective preparation designed to prevent conception

Religion – a personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship

Safety – the condition of being safe; freedom from danger, risk, or injury

Sex - The property or quality by which organisms are classified as female or male on

the basis of their reproductive organs and functions.

Silastic implantations – consists of six non-biodegradable silastic implants about the

width of a pencil lead, that are filled with synthetic progesterone and

embedded just under the skin on the side of the upper arm. These implants

slowly release hormones, suppressing ovulation, stimulating thick cervical

mucus, and changing the endometrium so that implantation is difficult.

Silastic Intravaginal Ring – is a soft and flexible ring that is made of silicone rubber

with a 55-mm outer diameter and 9.5-mm cross-sectional diameter

Sterilization- Any surgical procedure intended to end fertility permanently (see

contraception). Such operations remove or interrupt the anatomical pathways

through which the cells involved in fertilization travel (see reproductive

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system). They are relatively simple and more than 99% effective. The

operations used in humans are vasectomy in men and tubal ligation (tying off

and blocking or cutting of the fallopian tubes) in women.

Vaginal spermicides - are a type of contraceptive which are inserted into the vagina

before any genital contact occurs or sexual intercourse begins. They work by

damaging and killing sperm in the vagina.