THE CURRENT PRIORITIES OF CONTRACEPTIVE BEHAVIOR IN RUSSIAN ABLE-BODIED WOMEN (ACCORDING TO A SAMPLING STUDY)

Objective. To study the current priorities of contraceptive behavior in able-bodied women. Materials and methods. A survey was conducted in 191 able-bodied women in one of the regions of the Central Federal District of Russia. The questionnaire included a set of closed and scale questions on the problems of contraception. The findings were analyzed using the applied MS Excel 2016, by calculating the extensive indicators. Results. The study showed that 97.2% of the women were familiar with the concept of contraception; 80.1% used the latter to achieve various goals, and 87.6% of them applied contraceptives to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. It noted the evolution of approaches to using contraceptives among respondents from the onset of sexual life to the present time - the use of spermicides, an intrauterine device, and hormonal drugs is increasing. This indicates the growing responsibility of a woman who seeks to completely control the problem of unwanted pregnancy without relying on her partner. This is evidenced by a 39.1% decrease in the use of a condom that is traditionally a male type of contraception, as well as by a slight reduction in the use of ineffective methods, such as safe days and coitus interruptus. The reasons for nonuse of contraception were most often the lack of adherence to contraception (18.3%) and the confidence in the harmful effects on health (10.0%). The interviewed women gave preference to healthcare workers as consultants in the choice of contraception. However, the specialists themselves seldom use highly effective means (9.1%). Conclusion. The necessity of implementing the education programs to preserve reproductive health and to prevent sexually transmitted infections is undoubtedly one of the most important tasks in organizing female medical care due to the entry into sexual relationships in more than one-third of 15-18-year-old respondents. It should be implemented by health workers having appropriate professional competence and communication to interact with the parents of minor children and the representatives of educational establishments, which will be able to impart healthy lifestyle skills, to prevent unplanned pregnancy in women at any age, and to preserve the nation’s health.

contraception, contraceptive behavior, awareness, reproductive health, working age