Abstract

DIAZ CARDENAS, Shyrley; GONZALEZ MARTINEZ, Farith  and  RAMOS MARTINEZ, Ketty. History of Pregnancies in Student of Health Programs in a Public University in the Colombian Caribbean. Rev Clin Med Fam [online]. 2010, vol.3, n.3, pp.163-169. ISSN 2386-8201.

Objective. To describe the history of pregnancies and its relationship to the knowledge, attitudes and practices of university students in health programs. University of Cartagena. Design. Cross-sectional. Location. Municipality of Cartagena de Indias-Colombia. Participants. Sample of 231 college students, through probability proportional sampling according to the program and year of study course. Main measures. A structured questionnaire was completed with the following variables: history of pregnancies, type of relationship, circumstances and consequences, knowledge of, attitudes to and contraception practices, plus demographic variables. For estimates we used the proportions and the relationship was evaluated by bivariate analysis, applying the X² test to determine statistical significance. Results. Seven point four percent of the respondents reported having been pregnant at least once during their course of studies. The most commonly used method of contraception was the condom (condom) with 17.8% of students using this method. On correlating the history of pregnancies with demographic variables and practices, significance was observed with age (P = 0.006) and marital status (P = 0.000), with the most commonly used contraceptive (P = 0.000) and with the knowledge of fertile days within the menstrual cycle (P = 0.005). Conclusions. Although this population has easy access to information on unwanted pregnancies, there was a significant frequency of inadequate knowledge, unsafe practices and attitudes that distort the university students´ reality of contraception and bring about changes in their life projects as professionals.

Keywords : Pregnancy; Contraception; University Students.

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