Exploring Women\'s Perspectives on Oral Contraceptives: The Role of Pharmacists in Shaping Attitudes and Accessibility

Authors : Muhammed Yunus Bektay, Pınar Nur Demirci, Muhammed Atak

Pages : 195-201

Doi:10.52827/hititmedj.1345245

View : 29 | Download : 26

Publication Date : 2023-10-10

Article Type : Research

Abstract :Objective: Over the past two decades, oral contraceptives have emerged as the predominant choice for contraception globally. This study explores women’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding oral contraceptives and the pharmacist’s possible role. Material and Method: From November 2020 to January 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional observational study in Turkey. To assess the women’s knowledge attitudes and knowledge level about oral contraceptives, we developed an online questionnaire utilizing Google Forms. The data were gathered through an exponential non-discriminative snowball sampling method. The reliability of the questionnaire was measured by Cronbach α value. The data obtained from the participants were statistically analyzed using principal component factor analysis and chi-square test. Results: This study involved 140 participants, with a mean age of 32.31±14.21. Most participants (77, 55%) reported being single. Among the participants, a notable majority (93, 66.4%) were not utilizing any contraceptive methods, and a statistically significant discrepancy was observed between the married and single women (p<0.001, χ²=21.968). Nearly half of the participants (75, 53.6%) indicated lack of usage of any contraception methods. According to our findings, a substantial portion (76, 54.3%) of participants gathered information about oral contraceptives from sources with lower reliability, including sources like television, Internet, social media, friends, and relatives. Conclusion: The knowledge and attitudes regarding oral contraceptives among different age groups within the Turkish population are not at the desired level. The involvement of community pharmacists, who serve as accessible healthcare professionals, educating women about contraception and family planning, would yield favorable results.
Keywords : Kontraseptif Yöntemler, Aile Planlaması, Oral Kontraseptif, Klinik Eczacılık