Are affluent, well-educated, career-orientated women knowledgeable users of the oral contraceptive pill?

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dc.contributor.authorVan Der Westhuizen M.
dc.contributor.authorHall D.R.
dc.date.accessioned2011-05-15T16:16:58Z
dc.date.available2011-05-15T16:16:58Z
dc.date.issued2005
dc.description.abstractObjective: Studies have shown poor knowledge of oral contraceptives among women attending government health clinics and women in rural areas. Little is known about the level of contraceptive knowledge in educated, affluent, career-orientated women, although it could be expected that access to information would be greater. The study objective was to describe the profile, knowledge and understanding of oral contraceptive users in a private general practice in Johannesburg, South Africa. Methods: Over a period of 3 months, all women attending a private general practice who were using an oral contraceptive were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire. Informed written consent was obtained in all cases. Results: Fifty-one women participated in the study. Most women were nulliparous (71%), held a tertiary educational qualification (80%), were employed (84%) and were not concerned about the cost of their pill (65%). Most respondents (86%) obtained their information from a doctor. However, only 12% of women were aware of the danger of extending the active pill-free interval. Less than half (49%) were aware that their pill was less effective if taken more than 12 hours late and only 31% of women knew that their pill was effective again after taking seven active tablets. Conclusions: Educated, affluent women attending a private general practice lacked basic knowledge of the oral contraceptive pill. Consultations by practitioners need to be improved.
dc.description.versionArticle
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care
dc.identifier.citation31
dc.identifier.citation4
dc.identifier.issn14711893
dc.identifier.other10.1783/147118905774480743
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/14017
dc.subjectoral contraceptive agent
dc.subjectadolescent
dc.subjectadult
dc.subjectage distribution
dc.subjectarticle
dc.subjectcareer
dc.subjectcontrolled study
dc.subjectfemale
dc.subjectgeneral practice
dc.subjecthuman
dc.subjecthuman experiment
dc.subjectinformed consent
dc.subjectoral contraception
dc.subjectquestionnaire
dc.subjectsexual behavior
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.subjectvocational education
dc.subjectattitude to health
dc.subjectdecision making
dc.subjecteducation
dc.subjecteducational status
dc.subjectincome
dc.subjectpsychological aspect
dc.subjectsocial class
dc.subjectsocioeconomics
dc.subjecttime
dc.subjectAdolescent
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectCareer Choice
dc.subjectContraception Behavior
dc.subjectContraceptives, Oral
dc.subjectEducational Status
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectIncome
dc.subjectQuestionnaires
dc.subjectSocial Class
dc.subjectSocioeconomic Factors
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.subjectTime Factors
dc.subjectWomen, Working
dc.titleAre affluent, well-educated, career-orientated women knowledgeable users of the oral contraceptive pill?
dc.typeArticle
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