Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de adolescentes de la zona rural de Cuenca respecto a métodos anticonceptivos

Abstract

This research had as its main objective to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices adolescents of the rural zone of Cuenca have regarding the use of the contraceptive methods. A cross-sectional quantitative study was carried out with a descriptive scope, with a sample of 360 male and female students, average adolescents (15 to 17 years old), who were attending high school at a regular public institution. To collect data there was the need to use a survey validated in Spanish "Durex Network and Trenwolves", based on the Reproductive Health Study (Albania 2002), of the PhD Gino Verleye. It encompassed 31 items that explore the knowledge, attitudes and practices of the adolescents against contraceptive methods. The information gathered was processed by means of the SPSS and Microsoft Excel. The data was also graphed and exposed by formulas with descriptive statistics. The obtained results reported that adolescents in rural areas live in structured homes with their parents (64%), a 10% lives with a relative or an acquaintance. An 88% has received information about contraceptive methods in the last year, 78% indicated that they had received information from the Educational Institution they belong to, and 55% from their parents. 48% knows that in the first sexual relationship a woman can get pregnant, the most known contraceptive methods by adolescents is the condom (85%), 64% presented a positive attitude towards the use of condoms as a method of contraception. 25% of adolescents indicated having had sexual intercourse, the average age of sexual debut was 15 years, 35% indicated that they were at risk of having an unwanted pregnancy and 37% of being infected with an ITS.