Contraceptive use and associated factors among university students

Abstract

Introduction: the use of contraceptives has been growing every year, being one of the main reasons for the reduction in total fertility rates, including in the younger population, such as university students.
Objective: identify the consumption of hormonal contraceptives and associated factors among university students.
Methods: the study population consisted of university students enrolled in undergraduate courses at the Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), in Londrina, Paraná state, Brazil, in 2019, members of the larger project called GraduaUEL. The students answered an instrument built on anon-line digital platform. The  dependent variable was the consumption of hormonal contraceptives, and the independent variables were sociodemographic aspects, lifestyle and health. Measured associations were verified using Poisson Regression, with calculation of the Prevalence Ratio (PR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).
Results: of the 2,221 students evaluated, the consumption of contraceptives was identified by 13.0%, higher among white/yellow women, who reported being heterosexual, who had parents with higher education, who reported having a private health plan and partner, and who practiced physical activity at least twice a week. However, only the fact of being heterosexual showed a significant association after the adjusted analysis (PR: 1.865; 95% CI: 1.308-2.659).
Conclusions: in light of the above, the need to prepare health professionals about contraceptives and their adverse effects is clear, as well as what social issues should be considered in the process of using contraceptives, to combat discrimination, social and economic inequality regarding access and the use of these medications.