Contraceptive use and attitudes in reunified Germany.

ABSTRACT

Contraceptive use and attitudes were assessed in a random sample of 1064 German women. The majority (76%) of the sexually active, fertile women who were not pregnant and did not wish to get pregnant at the time of the survey were using very reliable contraceptive methods, namely oral contraceptives (OCs), intrauterine devices (IUDs) or sterilization. Comparison with a previous survey showed that contraceptive practice in West Germany had improved considerably since 1985. Attitudes towards the most reliable methods available (OCs, IUDs and sterilization) were found to be ambivalent. Perceived side effects and health risks were a particular matter of concern to the respondents. Although most respondents (88%) recognized that condoms prevent the transmission of AIDS, 66% of those who had occasional sexual partners did not use barrier methods. It is concluded that German contraceptive practice is reasonably effective and that if attitudes were to become more realistic the level of effectiveness could even be raised.

ABSTRACT

PIP The sample for this 1992 survey of contraceptive use and attitudes was obtained by random-walk sampling, whereby field workers from a survey agency that collaborated in carrying out the study followed designated routes throughout the country, starting from 257 predetermined locations. They identified subjects 15-45 years old by visiting their homes and inviting the woman in each household to participate in the study. Of the 1064 women surveyed, 75.7% were defined as being exposed to the risk of conception; 3.8% stated they were infertile, 4.2% were currently pregnant, 4.0% intended to get pregnant, and 15.6% were not sexually active. The barrier methods used comprised condoms (10.4%), diaphragms (0.9%), spermicides (0.6%), and combinations of condoms and spermicides (0.4%), of diaphragms and spermicides (0.1%), and of diaphragms and condoms (0.2%). Although most respondents (88%) recognized that condoms prevent the transmission of AIDS, 66% of those who had occasional sexual partners did not use barrier methods. 75.7% of exposed German women used reliable methods, namely OCs, IUDs, and sterilization. Women from what had been East Germany cited the common reasons mentioned for using contraceptives as often as did women from what had been West Germany (p 0.05), except for AIDS and sexually transmitted disease prevention (1.1% and 5.8%, respectively, p 0.05) and alleviation of skin disorders (2.3% and 12.5%, respectively, p 0.01). Information on contraception was obtained mainly from gynecologists (67.7%) and friends (30.9%). Comparison with a previous survey showed that contraceptive practice in the former West Germany had improved considerably since 1985. Attitudes towards the most reliable methods available (OCs, IUDs and sterilization) were found to be ambivalent. Perceived side effects and health risks were a particular matter of concern to the respondents. Certain disadvantages of OCs and IUDs were less frequently perceived by women from the former East Germany than by women from the former West Germany, whereas "East German" women were more frequently of the opinion that sterilization was a major and risky operation. German contraceptive practice is reasonably effective, and if attitudes were to become more realistic the level of effectiveness could even be raised.