Factors influencing college women's contraceptive behavior: An application of the integrative model of behavioral prediction.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated variables within the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction (IMBP) as well as differences across socioeconomic status (SES) levels within the context of inconsistent contraceptive use among college women. PARTICIPANTS: A nonprobability sample of 515 female college students completed an Internet-based survey between November 2014 and February 2015. METHODS: Respondents were asked about their contraception use, knowledge and information sources, demographic information, and IMBP factors, including attitudes, norms, and perceived behavioral control (PBC). RESULTS: While overall attitudes, norms, PBC, and intentions for contraceptive use were high, only 46.8% of women used contraception consistently. Data also revealed only moderate levels of knowledge about contraception. While there were no differences across SES levels for attitudes, PBC, norms or knowledge, SES levels did differ in sources used to acquire contraceptive information. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the need to consider where college women acquire contraceptive information which is associated with SES.