[A survey on contraceptive knowledge, attitude and behavior among never-married young women who are seeking pregnancy termination in Beijing].

OBJECTIVE: To identify contraceptive knowledge, attitude, behavior and its determinants among never-married young women who have unwanted pregnancy in Beijing. METHODS: A cross-sectional study under adoption of Lawrence "Procede-Proceed" model, was conducted in China in 1999. Three hundred and six unmarried young women aged 18 to 24, requesting for pregnancy termination were interviewed in person. RESULTS: Findings of this study indicated that only one-eighth (13%) of the young women insisted on contraceptive use every time, and almost an equal proportion (26.4%, 26.8% respectively) occasionally or never using contraceptives. Among 224 women who ever used contraceptives during the past 12 months, condom (49%) ranked the first place followed by withdrawal (27.7%) and the rhythm method (15.6%). One of the most important reasons, cited by 73 percent of women who had never used contraceptives, was that they were not aware of the risk of pregnancy when engaging in sexual activities. The results of logistic regression analysis revealed that knowledge about contraception, boyfriend's approval of contraceptive use, perceived the risk of getting pregnancy, perceived availability of contraceptive service and discussion of contraception with boyfriend were important indicators of young women's behavior on contraceptive use. CONCLUSION: These results indicated an urgent need to develop sex education about contraception among young women and men, through enhancing perception about risk of unwanted pregnancy and complications of induced abortion among young women, and to promote men's co-operation and participation in contraceptive use as well as strengthening communication on contraception between young women and their partners.

Maternal influence on the use of impregnated bednets in the protection of infantile malaria.

A cross-sectional survey of 184 mothers or caretakers was undertaken to investigate the effect of socio-behavioral background on decision making in relation to the use of impregnated bednets to prevent malaria for their children in Ratchaburi Province, Thailand. It was found that most mothers had knowledge of the cause, transmission and prevention of malaria. They perceived susceptibility and severity of malaria as a risk to their children, which might even cause death. They also perceived and had positive attitudes toward impregnated bednets as a protection for their children. Three-quaters (76.4%) of them used impregnated bednets regularly to protect their children whereas one-quarter (23.6%) used infrequently and few never used. Bivariate analysis showed that the use of impregnated bednets was significantly related to the factors such as knowledge of malaria prevention, perception of benefits of the use, the receipt of information about the impregnated bednets from malaria workers.

Socio-cultural and behavioural aspects of mosquito-borne lymphatic filariasis in Thailand: a qualitative analysis.

This study examines the contribution of socio-cultural and behavioural factors in mosquito-borne lymphatic filariasis transmission in Southern Thailand. Research was conducted in Nakorn-srithamarat province, which is noted for having the nation's highest Brugia malayi filariasis morbidity rate. Factors examined include traditional knowledge and cultural beliefs concerning etiology, transmission and symptomatology; perceived susceptibility and severity: social stigma: social support in disease prevention and control; and behavioural risk factors and illness behaviours. Data were collected through a multi-method, predominantly qualitative-based approach, including rapid survey and mapping, group interviews, focus group discussions, indepth interviews, and participant observation. Results indicate that poor knowledge and lay, indigenous, traditional belief systems contribute to high risk behaviours, and inappropriate preventive, illness and treatment choice behaviours. Behavioural models for explaining filariasis risk, preventive, illness and treatment choice behaviours are presented. Finally, recommendations for more effective health education programmes are offered.

Mothers' hygiene behaviours and their determinants in Suphanburi, Thailand.

The aim of this study was to identify the predisposing and enabling factors affecting mothers' hygiene behaviour in relation to childhood diarrhoeal diseases. Qualitative data were gathered by naturalistic observation of 12 mothers and focus group discussions involving 32 mothers. Mothers with children less than 2 years of age in both urban and rural areas of Suphanburi, a central province of Thailand, were sampled. Twelve local terms describing five different types of diarrhoea were identified. Childhood diarrhoea was classified into two groups depending upon perceived causes: contagious and preventable, and not contagious and unpreventable. To prevent diarrhoea in children, mothers reported that they avoid "taboo" food, avoid breastfeeding with "hot" milk and visit local healers for a herbal paste treatment that is applied to the child's throat. Most mothers did not wash their hands before preparing milk or after disposal of children's faeces. However, they did wash their hands after cleaning the child following the child's defecation, and after their own defecation. Our findings suggest that health education programmes should utilize local terminology and work to counter common misunderstandings regarding childhood diarrhoeal disease and its prevention. Knowledge of the predisposing and enabling factors identified in this study will assist in the development of effective implementation programmes.

Recent advances in the social and behavioral aspects of filariasis.

Despite an increased awareness of the significance of social and behavioral influences upon various aspects of filariasis, there has been a relative lack of research that has specifically attempted to assess such factors from the outset. Instead, the norm has been to indirectly discover social and behavioral patterns primarily as a byproducts of epidemiological and clinical surveys. The exception to this has been a recent surge of research interest in this domain that was initiated by a commitment by the UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), although it is clear that more research is needed. The results of those few studies that have been conducted concerning the roles of behavioral (knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, practice) and socio-cultural factors are reviewed in this paper, highlighting how an acknowledgement of such factors contributes of a greater understanding of the relevant issues, thus allowing for more relevant and feasible health education/intervention programs. Finally, recent research conducted by two of the present authors in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province in Southern Thailand, which is noted for having the highest filariasis morbidity rate in the country, is presented and discussed. This is followed by recommendations for appropriate health education programs, and suggestions for future research.