Predicting Pregnancy and Contraceptive Usage among College Women

Abstract

This study was designed to determine what factors might contribute to possible pregnancy and birth control usage among a sample of college women. The obtained sample was comprised of 140 college women who sought pregnancy tests at the health center at the University of Maryland. Of the 140 pregnancy tests performed 40 (28.6%) were positive. Over 40% of the women in this study were not using any type of birth control at the time of their possible pregnancy and over 15% of women whose tests proved positive had been pregnant before. The reasons given for non-use seem to reflect a tendency to deny ones sexuality. In addition over 1/3 of the non-users listed their concern over the health risks of birth control methods as a reason for non-use. Denial and health risk appear to be critical barriers for effective contraceptive usage and these issues need to be addressed in birth control education programs for this population. Not surprisingly a strong relationship was detected between sporadic or non-use of birth control and pregnancy. Also contraceptive behavior at the onset of sexual activity appears to be related consistently to use in later years. Those women who reported that they had used some method of contraception the 1st time they had intercourse were more likely to use contraception always. Methods that supposedly had failed for those women who had positive pregnancy tests tended to be the diaphragm and the sponge. These same women were more likely to have used the diaphragm or sponge the 1st time they had intercourse. The women with negative pregnancy tests were more likely to have used condoms in both initial and subsequent sexual activity. Because lack of knowledge has not played a major role in unintended pregnancy health educators must concentrate more on the psychosocial factors of non-contraceptive use including denial and guilt over sexuality in general (particularly in women) lack of communication between the sexes a coming to terms with sexuality in general and assertiveness training.