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doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2006.07.032
Copyright © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd All rights reserved.

Sexual intercourse and current contraceptive use among university students in Finland

Aira M. Virtala^{a, b, ,} , Kristina Kunttu^c, Teppo A. Huttunen^d and Irma O. Virjo^e
aFinnish Student Health Service, Tampere, Finland
^bPirkanmaa Hospital District, Centre of General Practice, Tampere, Finland
^cFinnish Student Health Service, Turku, Finland
^dOy 4Pharma Ltd., Turku, Finland
^eMedical School, University of Tampere, Finland
Received 17 January 2006; revised 17 April 2006; accepted 19 July 2006. Available online 9 February 2007.

Abstract

Objective

To ascertain the current frequency of sexual intercourse, the current use of contraceptives, the ever use of emergency contraception, and the ever experience of condom failure among Finnish university students.

Study design

The study population consisted of Finnish undergraduate university students (19–34 years of age) in 2004. The randomly selected sample comprised 5030 subjects. The data were collected by postal questionnaire, the response rate being 62.7%. Data were presented with frequency distributions and cross-tabulations. Chi-square test was used. Frequencies for women and men were presented and tested separately.

Results

A total of 80% of students were currently practicing sexual intercourse. Approximately half of the female students currently used hormonal contraception and one-third used a condom. Almost half of the men currently used a condom. The simultaneous use of condom and hormonal contraception was rare. Condom failure was common. The ever use of emergency contraception appeared to be associated with condom failure.

Conclusion

Of Finnish university students 80% were sexually active and hormonal contraceptives were the most popular method of contraception among female students. The use of the condom should be practiced more often for prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.

Keywords: Sexual intercourse; Contraception; Emergency contraception; Condom failure; Students

Corresponding author at: Finnish Student Health Service, Kalevantie 3, 33014 University of Tampere, Finland. Tel.: +358 32430277/503451744; fax: +358 32430205.

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Volume 135, Issue 1, November 2007, Pages 104-110