Hygiena 2014, 59(3):104-109 | DOI: 10.21101/hygiena.a1256

Selected Aspects of Sexual Behaviour and the Use of Contraceptive Methods among Students the Faculty of Education of Palacký University in Olomouc

Kateřina Kikalová¹, Miroslav Kopecký², Jitka Tomanová¹, Jiří Charamza¹

Univerzita Palackého Olomouc, Pedagogická fakulta, Katedra antropologie a zdravovědy

While sexuality is an integral part of human behaviour, inappropriate sexual behaviour may threaten physical, psychological and social health. Young people are particularly vulnerable, and yet, in comparison with their parents, today's young generation has a completely different access to information. Using a questionnaire survey, the present study aimed at identifying the attitudes of college students to modern contraceptive methods, their preferences in the use of contraceptives, and the experience of young women with hormonal contraception. Additionally, it sought to define the main source of information regarding this area, the average age of first sexual intercourse, and the use of contraception during the first sexual intercourse. The research was carried out from 2010 to 2011 with the help of a questionnaire survey. The researched group consisted of 544 respondents (84 men and 460 women) aged 19 to 24, students of the Faculty of Education, Palacky University in Olomouc. The non-standardised questionnaire contained nine semi-open questions.The research findings showed the school, friends, and the press to be the main source of information about sexuality, family planning, and contraception for young people today. Furthermore, the study established that 88.6% of the respondents considered modern contraception a natural part of their sex life. Hormonal contraception is deemed an appropriate and acceptable method of birth control by 45.2% men and 78.0% women. Decision about the contraceptive method is made independently by 52.39% women and 8.33% men, while for 42.39% women and 65.48% men the choice is the result of an agreement between partners. In the survey, 33.3% men said they used a condom as the most common contraceptive method; 19% men responded that their partner was using hormonal contraception. Hormonal contraception was most frequently applied by 69.1% women as an effective method of birth control. A surprisingly high number of respondents reported negative experience with hormonal contraception. Most often this concerned weight gain (31.5%), mood swings or depression (15.3%), and decreased libido (7.3%). Five women (1.6%) reported having suffered thrombosis. The survey found that the average age of first sexual intercourse of the respondents in women was 16.9 years of age and in men 17.1 years of age.

Keywords: contraceptive methods, sexual behaviour, family planning, students

Received: July 2013; Accepted: January 20, 2014; Published: September 1, 2014  Show citation