The use of pregnancy test kits by college students

The self-testing product market is experiencing tremendous growth. Technical breakthroughs are allowing tests to be conducted in the home that at one time were possible only in a clinical laboratory. One of the more rapidly expanding components of the self-testing market is home pregnancy test kits. We conducted a study to obtain information about the use of home pregnancy test kits by college students. Questionnaires were distributed to 1,000 women entering the student health service between October 1 and November 4, 1987. A total of 761 (76.1%) questionnaires were completed and returned. Results indicated that approximately 1 out of 6 respondents (17.2%) had used a pregnancy test kit at least once. Of those who had used a test kit, the majority did so because of the speed or confidentiality of obtaining results. The magnitude of test kit use by this sample suggests that college women should be encouraged to use self-testing products as a supplement to but not as a substitute for professional medical care.