Adaptation of the Contraceptive Behavior Scale for Mexican Heterosexual Populations.

INTRODUCTION: The Contraceptive Behavior Scale requires adaptation for use by health professionals among Mexican heterosexual populations of reproductive age. METHODS: Cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational design assessed adaptation of the Contraceptive Behavior Scale. RESULTS: Six hundred Mexican men and women of reproductive age (18-35 years) were recruited from a second-level health care unit in a metropolitan area in Mexico. Exploratory factor analysis identified two factors with an explanatory variance of 69.238%. Confirmatory factor analysis identified acceptable index values. Cronbach alpha of .729 obtained for the scale was acceptable. Significant correlation ( p = .007) was observed between Contraceptive Conduct and participant gender. Component 1 constituted Items 1, 2, and 4, while Component 2 consisted of Items 3 and 5. No items were eliminated as adequate factorial saturation was present. CONCLUSIONS: The Contraceptive Conduct Scale is a reliable assessment tool for Mexican men and women of reproductive age. This scale is potentially useful for health professionals to assess contraceptive behavior in heterosexual couples of reproductive age. Clinicians may use the tool to obtain information for development of strategies responding to sexual and reproductive health needs of both men and women.

Mexican Adolescents' Self-Reports of Parental Monitoring and Sexual Communication for Prevention of Sexual Risk Behavior.

PURPOSE: Assess perceptions of parental monitoring and sexual communication for sexual health promotion among adolescents who are Mexican. DESIGN AND METHODS: Adolescents (N=153, n=85 females, n=68 males) between 14years (n=80) and 15 years (n=73) were recruited at a public high school in Monterrey in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. All participants were living with a parent(s). Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted to assess sociodemographic characteristics of the group. Chi-square analyses were conducted to identify potential group differences among the adolescents by age, gender and sexual activity regarding responses to each item of the Spanish Version Parental Monitoring and Sexual Communication Scale (a=0.88). RESULTS: Eleven percent of adolescents self-reported sexual activity. Significant group differences by age, gender and sexual activity were identified concerning parental monitoring and sexual communication including: less parental monitoring with older age (14 versus 15 year olds); more parental monitoring for females than males; less monitoring for sexually active adolescents; greater sexual communication for males than females, and among adolescents who were sexually active. CONCLUSIONS: An assessment of adolescents' perceptions of parental monitoring and sexual communication is useful for development of strategies concerning sexual health promotion in Mexico. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The Spanish Version Parental Monitoring and Sexual Communication Scale can be used for assessment and modification of interventions for adolescent populations in Mexico. Information obtained from this assessment can be used to assist parents to enhance positive outcomes for parental monitoring and sexual communication with their children.

Adaptation of the contraceptive self-efficacy scale for heterosexual Mexican men and women of reproductive age.

AIM: Development of a Spanish Version Contraceptive Self-efficacy Scale for use among heterosexual Mexican populations of reproductive age inclusive of 18-35years. BACKGROUND: Methods of family planning have decreased in Mexico which may lead to an increase in unintended pregnancies. Contraceptive self-efficacy is considered a predictor and precursor for use of family planning methods. METHODS: Cross-sectional, descriptive study design was used to assess contraceptive self-efficacy among a heterosexual Mexican population (N=160) of reproductive age (18-35years). Adaptation of a Spanish Version Contraceptive Self-efficacy scale was conducted prior to instrument administration. RESULTS: Exploratory and confirmatory factorial analyses identified seven factors with a variance of 72.812%. The adapted scale had a Cronbach alpha of 0.771. A significant correlation between the Spanish Version Contraceptive Self-efficacy Scale and the use of family planning methods was identified. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish Version Contraceptive Self-efficacy scale has an acceptable Cronbach alpha. Exploratory factor analysis identified 7 components. A positive correlation between self-reported contraceptive self-efficacy and family planning method use was identified. This scale may be used among heterosexual Mexican men and women of reproductive age. The factor analysis (7 factors versus 4 factors for the original scale) identified a discrepancy for interpretation of the Spanish versus English language versions. Interpretation of findings obtained via the Spanish versión among heterosexual Mexican men and women of reproductive age require interpretation based upon these differences identified in these analyses.

Barriers to Use of Family Planning Methods Among Heterosexual Mexican Couples.

BACKGROUND: Family planning has become increasingly important as a fundamental component of sexual health and as such is offered via public health systems worldwide. Identification of barriers to use of family planning methods among heterosexual couples living in Mexico is indicated to facilitate access to family planning methods. METHODS: Barriers to family planning methods were assessed among Mexican heterosexual, sexually active males and females of reproductive age, using a modified Spanish version of the Barriers to the Use of Family Planning Methods scale (Cronbach's alpha = .89, subscales ranging from .53 to .87). Participants were recruited via convenience sampling in ambulatory care clinics within a metropolitan area in Central Mexico. RESULTS: Participants included 52 heterosexual couples aged 18-35 years (N = 104). Sociodemographic comparisons by gender identified older age and higher education, income, and numbers of sexual partners among men than women. More men (50%) than women (25%) were currently using family planning methods; however, 80% overall indicated intentions for its use. Overall, male condoms were used and intended for use most often by men than women. Significant gender-specific differences were found, with men (71.15%) reporting no family planning barriers, whereas women (55.66%) reported barriers including low socioeconomic status, medical concerns, and stigma. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The modified Spanish translation demonstrated usefulness for measuring barriers to family planning methods use in Mexico among heterosexual males and females of reproductive age. Barriers identified by Mexican women in this study may be addressed to reduce potential barriers to family planning among Mexican populations.