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A case-control study of the risk of breast cancer in relation to oral contraceptive use.

The relation of oral contraceptive use to the risk of breast cancer was evaluated in a case-control study of women under the age of 70 years, conducted in Toronto, Canada, from 1982 through 1986. A total of 607 breast cancer cases identified in a cancer hospital were compared with 1,214 controls matched to the cases on neighborhood and decade of age. Information on oral contraceptive use and risk factors for breast cancer was collected in home interviews. Conditional logistic regression was used to control multiple confounding factors. For women aged 40-69 years (527 cases, 1,054 controls), the results suggest that oral contraceptive use does not increase the risk of breast cancer. Multivariate relative risk estimates were close to or below 1.0 for long durations of use overall and in various categories of parity status and other factors. For women under the age of 40 years, the data were sparse (80 cases, 160 controls). Although there were some elevated relative risk estimates, most were not statistically significant, and there were no consistent patterns across duration of use. The present data add to the body of evidence that indicates that oral contraceptive use does not adversely affect the risk of breast cancer in older women; the data are inadequate to clarify the effect in younger women.

Adult↗

Contraception after thirty-five.

Our knowledge about the safety, the incidence of side effects, and the effectiveness of contraceptive methods for women in premenopause, or during the last decade of their reproductive life, has not been a primary interest for research and development in fertility control. The main purpose of trials for the evaluation of new contraceptive methods is to test their effectiveness, and therefore only women below 38 years of age are accepted. Furthermore, when new methods are being tested, only healthy women are accepted, and those having health problems of almost any kind are excluded. Therefore our knowledge about the contraceptive methods in women over 40 years of age is scanty and comes from trials with a long-lasting follow-up on healthy women who can use the method without problems until they are 45 or reach menopause. We have very limited reported information on the use of contraceptives by women who have cardiovascular disease, diabetes, liver problems, etc. Therefore the main body of experience in this review comes from healthy women between 35 and 44. On the other hand, one should remember that these women have a high motivation to use contraceptive methods and therefore the continuation rate in the trials is high. This compensates for the relatively small number of acceptors by giving more women-years in follow-up. Continuation rate and the proper use of methods are directly correlated to increase in age, socioeconomical status, and to education of users. Highly educated women in this age group have very low failure rate with almost any method.

Adult↗

A scale to measure microbehaviors of oral contraceptive pill use.

The ways in which contraceptive methods are actually used is of increasing interest to researchers, clinicians, and policy makers. Although contraceptive "use" has multiple dimensions, existing indicators measure only one aspect of use or combine unidimensional measures to produce a questionable pastiche. This study uses a subsample of 612 respondents from a larger study of first-time patients at a public-health-department family planning clinic to develop a new measure. Psychometric properties of this measure are examined and discussed.

Contraception Behavior↗

Sexual experience, abortion and sexually transmitted diseases among young women at a contraceptive clinic.

All visitors who during one year visited a contraceptive clinic in the Solna district of Stockholm County and were below the age of 26 were asked to fill in a questionnaire and offered a test for C. trachomatis. Three hundred and six women (97%) participated. Ninety percent had at some time used oral contraceptives and 91% had experience of condom use. One-fifth of the whole group had undergone one or more legal abortions, and one fourth had experience of a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The most common STD experienced was chlamydia, followed by condyloma. The actual prevalence of chlamydia in the group was 6%. Sexual contacts were often made early in on-going steady relations. Forty-two percent admitted casual sex, but the number of life-time partners was five or less among the majority.

Abortion, Legal↗

Contraceptive and sexual behavior of black female adolescents. A test of a social-psychological theoretical model.

To test a previous theoretical model, we studied the relationships between social, attitude, and psychological factors and adolescent contraceptive behavior over a 6-month period. A pretested questionnaire was administered to a random sample of 115 black females aged 12 to 18 years from a low socioeconomic population. Six months after the initial interview 113 of the subjects were administered a second questionnaire assessing their sexual and contraceptive behavior. Based on regression analysis, previous pregnancy and coital frequency explained 12.7% (p less than or equal to 0.0001) of the variation in engaging in unprotected coitus. When controlling for sexual activity, birth control knowledge and previous broken appointments explained an additional 5.5% of variation in the regression model (total R2 = 0.185). Coital frequency of the subjects was positively associated with Tanner stage, length of the relationship, effectiveness of previous contraceptive method(s), and degree of birth control knowledge. Coital frequency was inversely associated with a negative attitude toward pregnancy and negative parental attitudes toward adolescent pregnancy. The perceived risk of pregnancy was positively correlated with coital frequency and previous pregnancy. These findings support our model, but suggest that among low socioeconomic black female adolescents the interpretation of several model components depends on the subjects' attitude toward pregnancy and her perception of her parent's attitude toward adolescent pregnancy.

Adolescent↗

The relationship between contraceptives, sexual practices, and cervical human papillomavirus infection among a college population.

Four hundred and sixty-five college women were evaluated to determine if specific variables of social and sexual behavior correlated with the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in the genital tract, and if these associations differed between women who were HPV DNA positive, HPV DNA positive/clinically (cytologically) negative, or who reported previous HPV-related disease by a history of an abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) smear or genital warts. HPV positive women had more sexual partners in the recent past, more sexual episodes per month, and used spermacides less commonly than controls. Similarly, self-reporters were more likely to have more lifetime sexual partners and earlier age of onset for sexual activity. Cytologically negative HPV positive women were distinguished only by more sexual episodes per month and sexual partners in the past year (borderline significance). Alcohol use was significantly more frequent in all groups, underscoring this variable as a risk factor for both HPV DNA positivity and related disease in young women. Potential explanations for differences between women with clinically and non-clinically related HPV positivity are discussed, with emphasis on the need for followup studies to determine if an epidemiologically distinct subset of HPV DNA positive but clinically negative women are at risk for subsequent cervical disease.

Adolescent↗

Awareness and practice of contraception among female students at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu.

A study of the knowledge, attitudes to and practice of contraception among the female students at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, was carried out, involving 266 female students out of a total female student population of 1,510. The mean age of the population sample was 19.1 years and 254 (95%) were single. Ninety-six percent were aware of the availability of contraceptives. Knowledge relating to the practice of contraception was superficial since as many as 61% of the objectors believed that contraception subsequently led to infertility. One hundred and thirty (49%) of the studied population had used one form of contraception or another sometime in their lives. Seventy-six percent had not used any contraception for initial intercourse. The rhythm method followed by the barrier method were the most popular forms of contraception. Practice of contraception by the studied population was inconsistent as 21% of the students eventually had an unwanted pregnancy and 18% had an induced abortion. Health education is strongly recommended to our women folk in order to reduce the high incidence of unwanted pregnancy and its associated medical and social complications.

Adolescent↗

Use of contraceptives by women of upper socioeconomic status.

This was a descriptive correlational study of the contraceptive knowledge, methods, and consistency of contraceptive use by women of upper socioeconomic class. Socioeconomic class was determined using Hollingshead's Four-Factor Index of Social Status (1975) and was based on the woman's own educational and occupational status. The mean socioeconomic score for participants in this study (N = 83) was high in the second of five socioeconomic classes. Study participants were found to be consistent users of their contraceptive method and had fewer unplanned pregnancies in their history than the general population. They were more knowledgeable about contraceptives and reproduction than others tested with the same contraceptive knowledge instrument. They used barrier methods predominantly, with the use of less theoretically effective methods correlating significantly with a greater number of contraceptive methods used in the past.

Adult↗

Patterns of contraceptive use among urban women in Taiwan.

Patterns of contraceptive use among married urban women in Taiwan were investigated. A convenience sample of 150 women attending health clinics for reasons other than contraceptive care were interviewed about their contraceptive use. The most prevalent contraceptive method used by these women was the intrauterine device, followed by the condom and birth-control pills. Participants had used only one or two contraceptive methods throughout their contraceptive careers, and many stated they were satisfied with their current method. Many participants were able to name the methods of birth control promoted by the Taiwan family-planning promotion program. Knowledge of alternative methods did not significantly relate to current method in use or to desire to change methods.

Adult↗

Alcohol consumption, female sexual behavior and contraceptive use.

To examine the effects of alcohol consumption on female sexuality and contraceptive use, 69 sexually active women between the ages of 18 and 34 completed daily logs of their drinking behavior, sexual activity and contraceptive use over three consecutive menstrual cycles. In addition, participants completed a post-study questionnaire that assessed personal beliefs regarding alcohol use and sexual behavior. Although the results from the daily logs failed to show any significant effects of alcohol on subsequent sexual arousal, sexual pleasure or orgasm, female-initiated sexual activity appeared to be inversely related to alcohol use with women initiating significantly fewer sexual activities following the consumption of alcohol. On the contrary, the retrospective questionnaire data indicated that women believed alcohol enhanced sexual desire, enjoyment and activity. The findings further indicated that alcohol consumption immediately prior to sexual intercourse did not significantly alter the use of coitus-dependent contraceptives. These data suggest that women view alcohol as an aphrodisiac despite their physiological and reported behavioral responses.

Adolescent↗

A study of the cognitive aspects of sexual decision making in adolescent females.

A comprehensive sexuality questionnaire was administered to 37 females, ages 13 through 16 years, who attended clinics for routine health care. Subjects completed standardized scales of self-concept, locus of control, and future orientation. They also were given a short battery of standardized cognitive tests. Three groups were identified: Group 1 was sexually active and using contraception reliably, Group 2 was not using contraception reliably, and Group 3 had not been sexually active. Group 1 adolescents had higher scores on the vocabulary subtest of the WISC-R (F = 3.4, p less than .05) than did Group 2 adolescents, over and above the effect of socioeconomic status (SES). Group 1 subjects had higher scores on knowledge of sex and contraception than did Group 2 (F = 3.3, p less than .05). Group 1 had more internal locus of control (F = 7.0, p less than .005) than did Group 2 over and above the effect of SES. Mean scores for Group 3 adolescents were intermediate and not significantly different. The findings suggest that cognitive factors may influence contraceptive behavior in adolescent females.

Adolescent↗

Condom use with regular and casual partners among women attending family planning clinics.

A survey of 16,632 women attending family planning clinics in Pennsylvania found that only 13 percent of the sample used condoms. Moreover, 67 percent of the women with regular partners never used condoms with those partners, and 72 percent of women who had casual partners never used them with those partners. Levels of condom use with both regular and casual partners were higher among women younger than 20, those who were nonwhite, those with multiple partners and those who reported a previous STD infection. However, women who had sex partners who used intravenous drugs were less likely to use condoms with regular or casual partners than were women who did not have drug-using partners.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Sexual activity and contraceptive use among low-income urban black adolescent females.

A modified form of Nathanson and Becker's (1983) Health Belief Model Questionnaire and other measures designed to assess cognitive processing were administered to low-income black adolescent female clients of an inner-city comprehensive health care clinic. The purpose of the study was to explore determinants of sexual activity and contraceptive use. Subjects were classified as not sexually active (n = 50), sexually active/noncontracepting (n = 20), or sexually active/contracepting (n = 72). Not sexually active subjects tended to be younger, more career motivated, to have a father at home, to be more influenced by family values, and to have more conservative attitudes regarding adolescent sexuality than did sexually active subjects. Sexually active/noncontracepting subjects tended to report fewer benefits and more barriers to the use of contraception. Level of cognitive processing did not differ among the three groups, but was at a lower-than-expected level for age. Finally, inconsistent contraceptive use was common to both sexually active groups.

Adolescent↗

Choosing and using contraception: toward a theory of women's contraceptive self-care.

Thirty women of varying ethnicity and socioeconomic status, who were actively seeking to avoid pregnancy, were interviewed concerning their lifetime experience with contraceptive use. The resulting description, Women's Contraceptive Self-Care, was divided into four processes: the central process, Choosing and Using Contraception, and three contextual processes. Forestalling Pregnancy was defined as using contraceptive methods or behaviors to prevent or delay childbearing. Assigning the Burden of Contraceptive Responsibility was defined as assuming responsibility for contraception or shifting that responsibility to a partner. Negotiating with Those who Control Contraception was defined as maneuvering among individuals and agencies that permit or hinder access to contraceptive methods and behaviors. Each process is comprised of thematic clusters and/or themes that are defined and illustrated.

Adult↗

Epidemiology of contraception with steroids in Western Europe.

A study of contraceptive practice, essential knowledge and communication concerning contraception as well as the related perceptions was conducted among women aged 15-44 in Italy, France, Great Britain, Spain and the Federal Republic of Germany in the years 1984 and 1985. The pattern of contraceptive use and its differential varied strongly between countries. Knowledge, information and communications were observed to be different to a similar degree. Motives for changing contraceptive methods were largely inspired by concern for health and, to a lesser degree, reliability. Perceptions of contraceptive methods were found to be reasonably well in concurrence with reality, with the important exception of the perceptions of the health hazards of the pill which were largely overestimated, giving oral contraception and injustified bad image where effects on health are concerned.

Adolescent↗