[Knowledge and attitude toward family planning in non-medical female students at selected governmental universities in Tehran, 2003]

ABSTRACT

Nowadays, family planning is a fundamental principle in human life. Since about half of Iranian population are younger than 25, it is important to recognize the needs of this group to secure family members' health by devising and revising family planning programs. This descriptive study was conducted by a multi-stage cluster randomized sampling. Subject population consisted of 1100 single female students between 18-24, who were studying one of 4 majors including engineering, basic science, humanity, and arts at 9 governmental universities of Tehran. A questionnaire concerning knowledge and attitude toward family planning, and sources of information and options of contraception education was used. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS10. Mean age of participants was 20.9. Students had moderate knowledge and uncertain attitude toward family planning. The mean score of knowledge in basic science students was more than the others [p<0.001]. However, there was no significant difference between the mean sources of attitude in the 4 groups. There was a positive but weak relation between the mean scores of attitude in the 4 groups. There was a positive but weak relation between age as well as year of study and knowledge and attitude score [p<0.001]. the main sources of information about contraceptive methods were their friends and relatives. Our results suggest that a more appropriate educational family-planning program in colleges should be used by revising the present education at universities to increase knowledge and improve attitudes toward family planning program in colleges should be used by revising the present education at universities to increase knowledge and improve attitudes toward family planning