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Locus of control and contraceptive knowledge, attitudes and practice
The British Journal of Medical Psychology
|December 1, 1979
Summary
Women's beliefs about controlling their lives (locus of control) influenced their attitudes toward contraception. This finding has implications for family planning and sex education programs.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, and practice are crucial for reproductive health.
- Understanding factors influencing contraceptive behavior is essential for effective family planning.
- Locus of control, a psychological construct, may impact health-related decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, and practice among women attending antenatal clinics.
- To examine the relationship between locus of control and contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, and practice.
- To explore implications for family planning and sex education.
Main Methods:
- 100 interviews conducted with women at two Sydney public hospitals.
- Assessment of contraceptive knowledge, attitudes, practice, and locus of control.
- Multiple regression analyses used to determine relationships between variables.
Main Results:
- Locus of control was significantly associated with women's attitudes toward contraception.
- No significant relationship was found between locus of control and contraceptive knowledge.
- Locus of control did not significantly predict contraceptive practice.
Conclusions:
- Personal control beliefs are linked to attitudes about contraception.
- Findings suggest focusing on attitudes in family planning interventions.
- Sex education programs may benefit from addressing psychological factors influencing contraceptive use.
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