Anticoncepcional oral, ligadura de trompas e condom: caracterização do conhecimento da população de 15 anos ou mais em uma cidade do sul do Brasil.

Abstract

In Brazil, the prevalence contraceptive use is high, however the incorrect and inappropriate use is frequent, suggesting little knowledge about the methods. Thus, it was evaluated the knowledge about the most used contraceptive methods, measured through a score (0-10) and factors related to this knowledge. It was performed a population-based cross-sectional study, with 3,542 subjects, aged 15 or over, residents of the urban zone of Pelotas, RS. The average score of knowledge was of 4,65 (sd=2,07) being 5,02 (sd=2,10) for women and 4,18 (sd=1,92) for men. The lower age, higher schooling, report of unwanted pregnancy, and lifetime use of contraceptive methods exclusive or combined, were associated with higher knowledge score among men, while for women, the determinants of higher knowledge was higher age, live with partner, higher schooling, better socioeconomic level, not having religion and lifetime use of contraceptive methods exclusive or combined. Although the high prevalence of contraceptive use during the lifetime (75,3%), it is still limited the knowledge about the most used methods, as well as about the menstrual cycle and the fertile period.