ABSTRACT
PIP: 513 adolescent females attending a family planning center administered by the French Movement for Family Planning in Strasburg completed anonymous questionnaires between December 1984-June 1985 to identify the sociological and clinical characteristics of the clinic users. About 80% were 16-19 years old. 314 came unaccompanied to the center, 149 came with a friend, and 25 came with their partner. It was the 1st consultation for 278 respondents. 126 had been coming for less than 1 year, 67 for 1-2 years, 31 for 2-3 years, and 11 for more than 3 years. 83% were students. 312 resided in Strasburg or its suburbs and 201 resided elsewhere. Anonymity was the principal reason why clients travelled long distances to attend the center. 372 knew of the center through friends or sisters, 44 through the media, 40 through school, 11 through parents, and 7 through a doctor. 121 reported that their parents knew they used contraception and 382 that they did not know. 318 preferred a woman doctor for a contraceptive consultation, 180 did not care, and 6 preferred a man. Over half had their 1st menstrual period between the ages of 12 and 13. 172 were virgins at the time of their 1st consultation. The age of 1st intercourse was 14-17 years old for 81% and 15 or 16 for 48%. 155 used no contraception before visiting the center, 114 used withdrawal, 73 used condoms, 20 used spermicides, 38 used oral contraceptives (OCs) prescribed elsewhere, and 9 used other methods. 66% of prescriptions were for standard dosed pills because less than 2 years had passed since menarche, the cycles were irregular, or the client had acne or feared forgetting a pill. At the 3-month follow-up the prescription was changed to a lowdose pill in 43 cases because of side effects, while a low dose pill was changed to standard dose in 20 cases because of acne or forgetting. 24 girls came for a morning after pill and 31 for a pregnancy test. 9 reported they had already had abortions. 163 did not smoke, 152 smoked less than 1/2 pack daily, 150 smoked 1/2-1 pack, and 43 smoked more than 1 pack. 434 had a normal weight for their height and 56 were obese. 33% did not return after their 1st consulatation. Frank hyperlipidemia was rare among the clients tested.^ieng
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Age Factors , Behavior , Communication , Contraception Behavior , Delivery of Health Care , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Health Planning , Health Services , Information Services , Medicine , Patient Acceptance of Health Care , Population Characteristics , Pregnancy in Adolescence , Sexual Behavior , Contraception , Contraceptive Agents, Female , Contraceptives, Oral , Demography , Developed Countries , Europe , Family Planning Services , Fertility , France , Health , Organization and Administration , Population , Population Dynamics , Smoking , Social BehaviorABSTRACT
The results of a survey on contraception among 513 adolescent women attending a family planning clinic in Strasbourg, France, in 1985 are presented. "Eighty percent of them were attending school. In over half the cases, this was their first consultation for contraceptive advice. 33% of the subjects did not return after this initial consultation. The age at which sexual intercourse first occurred was between 14 and 17, with a peak at 15-16 years of age. Most of the girls attending this Family Planning Center were told about it by friends or a sister (78%) and they rarely told their parents what they were doing (76%). Most of them (63%) preferred a woman doctor for a contraceptive consultation." (SUMMARY IN ENG)