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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Jennifer C. Gard, BA, MPH-5/06, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Rosenau Hall, CB# 7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7440, 919-966-3761, jgard@email.unc.edu, Tina Raine, MD, MPH, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, 1001 Potrero, Box 6D, San Francisco, CA 94110, Beth A. Brown, MA, MPA, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 625 Potrero Avenue, Box 0923, San Francisco, CA 94143-0923, Cynthia C. Harper, PhD, OB-GYN, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Ste. 335, San Francisco, CA 94115, and Cherrie B. Boyer, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Laurel Heights LH245, San Francisco, CA 94143-0503.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To assess young men's knowledge of, attitudes toward, and experience with both hormonal and coitus-dependent contraceptive methods and to identify barriers to use. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS: A qualitative study in which data were gathered from focus group discussions of young men aged 19-26 years (N=66) recruited from four family planning clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area. OUTCOMES: Qualitative analysis of focus group transcripts to determine basic awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and experience with contraceptive methods. RESULTS: Overall awareness and knowledge of available contraceptive methods, except for the vaginal ring, was moderate to high. Five major themes emerged from focus group discussions. Participants' contraceptive decision-making reflects their degree of commitment with sexual partners. They expressed concern for pregnancy and disease transmission with casual partners. They also reported concerns about trusting partners to effectively use hormonal contraceptives. Concerns about the negative side effects of hormonal methods on partners were also expressed. They expressed willingness to communicate with partners about anxieties regarding trust and method choice. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that young men's limited roles in contraceptive decision-making may be due to apprehensions that are related to lack of partner trust and communication. It is important to increase the awareness about attitudes revealed in this study and to stimulate research on their influence of future programs involving male participation.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe three emerging themes from the qualitative data analysis.
• Develop an understanding of potential barriers to contraceptive use from the male perspective.
• Develop 2 strategies for program development involving adolescent males in contraceptive decision-making.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Contraceptives

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation