6725309

pubmed:Citation

2

http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/AUSTRALIA, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Age Factors, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Attitude, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Behavior, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Comparative Studies, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Contraception, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Contraceptive Methods..., http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Contraceptive Usage, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Developed Countries, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Developing Countries, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Education, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Family Planning, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Family Planning Education, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Knowledge, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Oceania, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Psychological Factors, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/RELIGION, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Research Methodology, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Research Report, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Sex Factors, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Students, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Studies, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Surveys, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/keyword/Use-effectiveness

http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/journal/0177346

MEDLINE

0021-9320

Print

NLM

277-86

PIP: The present research focuses on the cognitive dimensions used by young people in distinguishing between methods of contraception, and explores individual differences in the use of these dimensions to make judgments by age, sex, religion and contraceptive use. 3 groups of subjects rated the similarity of 17 methods of contraception, and also rated each method on a number of adjective scales. Multidimensional scaling of the similarity judgments revealed 2 dimensions: 1 related to expense, effectiveness, and safety, and the other differentiating between standard and non-standard methods of contraception. In addition, methods of contraception were arrayed in the space mainly on the basis of physical similarity. Analyses of the rating scales indicate that subjects perceived methods accurately in terms of effectiveness, but were inaccurate in their ratings of safety to the user. Effectiveness, spontaneity, expense and safety are shown to be generally more important factors in judgments about contraceptive methods than morality, popularity and messiness. Overall, similarity ratings of the contraceptives fell into a near circular pattern, which moved from abstinence, through barrier methods to semipermanent ones and finally to sterilization. Analysis of individual differences indicate that the 2nd dimension is more salient to younger than to older subjects, but does not reveal differences related to religion or contraceptive use. The results suggest that family planning educators have been quite effective in promoting an accurate estimate of effectiveness among older and younger people. On the other hand, subjects' perceptions of safety to the user were not balanced by knowledge of pregnancy risks associated with the use of specific methods. It is hoped that future family planning programs will result in an expansion of the dimensions young people use in evaluating contraceptives beyond those of effectiveness and physical similarity.

1984

Journal Article