Contraceptive Attitudes and Use among Tertiary Students in Greece

Abstract

Objective:A sizable fraction of young people with active sex lives do not utilize contraceptives and engage in high-risk sexual activity. School-based programs can prevent sexual activity, encourage birth control and reduce high-risk behavior. A survey was conducted to assess the key sources of knowledge on sexual education and document attitudes and methods of contraception used by Greek students, providing valuable information for expanding contraceptive services. Material and methods:A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted by using an online questionnaire which was distributed to 206 digital student groups on social media platforms from May 20 to June 5, 2021. Results:The majority of participants obtained information about contraception from the Internet and used male condoms to avoid unwanted pregnancy and protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The present study found that younger ages (18-20 and 21-25) preferred to use the male condom technique in an ephemeral relationship [x² (12) =26.041, Fisher's exact test p= 0.0380.05]. Conclusions:Exploring students' attitudes toward contraceptive usage can provide valuable insights for developing effective strategies to promote safe and responsible sexual behavior among this population.