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Factors Predictive of Adolescents’ Intentions to Use Birth Control Pills, Condoms, and Birth Control Pills in Combination with Condoms

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Abstract

Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (Ajzen, 1988) as a conceptual framework, 705 secondary school students were surveyed to identify their intentions to use birth control pills, condoms, and birth control pills in combination with condoms. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that the theory explained between 23.5% and 45.8% of the variance in intentions. Variables external to the model such as past use, age, and ethnicity exhibited some independent effects. Attitudes were consistently predictive of intentions to use condoms, pills, and condoms in combination with pills for both male and female students. However, there were differences by gender in the degree to which subjective norms and perceived behavioural control predicted intentions. The findings suggest that programs should focus on: creation of positive attitudes regarding birth control pills and condoms; targeting important social influences, particularly regarding males’ use of condoms; and developing strategies to increase students’ control over the use of condoms.

Résumé

La théorie du comportement axé sur un objectif (Ajzen, 1988) a servi de cadre de travail conceptuel pour mener un sondage auprès de 705 étudiants à l’école secondaire visant à connaître leurs intentions concernant l’utilisation de la pilule anticonceptionnelle, du condom ou des deux méthodes combinées. L’analyse de variance avec régression hiérarchique a révélé que la théorie expliquait entre 23,5 % et 45,8 % de la variance dans les intentions. Les variables extérieures au modèle comme l’utilisation qu’ils en ont fait dans le passé, l’âge et le groupe ethnique ont révélé des effets indépendants. Les attitudes étaient prévisibles tant chez les filles que chez les garçons quant à l’intention d’utiliser soit le condom, la pilule anticonceptionnelle ou bien une combinaison des deux. Cependant, on a noté des différences selon le sexe concernant la subjectivité des normes et la perception de contrôle des comportements des intentions prévues. Les conclusions indiquent que les programmes devraient s’attarder à: développer des attitudes positives au sujet de la pilule anticonceptionnelle et du condom; viser les influences sociales importantes, en particulier en ce qui a trait à l’utilisation du condom chez les hommes; et mettre au point des stratégies pour accroître la maîtrise des étudiants pour ce qui est de l’utilisation du condom.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, 50 St. George Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H4, Canada

    Dorothy M. Craig RN, MScN (Professor Emeritus), Karen E. Wade RN, MScN, Hyacinth M. Irving MA & J. Ivan Williams PhD

  2. Toronto Public Health, Canada

    Karen E. Wade RN, MScN & Carole M. Hlibka RN, BN, BEd

  3. Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada

    Kenneth R. Allison PhD & J. Ivan Williams PhD

  4. Department of Sociology, University of Toronto, Canada

    Hyacinth M. Irving MA

  5. Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Sunnybrook and Womens’ College Health Sciences Centre, Canada

    J. Ivan Williams PhD

Authors
  1. Dorothy M. Craig RN, MScN
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  2. Karen E. Wade RN, MScN
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  3. Kenneth R. Allison PhD
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  4. Hyacinth M. Irving MA
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  5. J. Ivan Williams PhD
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  6. Carole M. Hlibka RN, BN, BEd
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dorothy M. Craig RN, MScN.

Additional information

This study was funded by The National Health Research and Development Program of Health Canada, Project #6606-5631-201. The study was a project of the North York Community Health Promotion Research Unit. Kenneth Allison is supported by a Career Scientist award from the Ontario Ministry of Health.

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Craig, D.M., Wade, K.E., Allison, K.R. et al. Factors Predictive of Adolescents’ Intentions to Use Birth Control Pills, Condoms, and Birth Control Pills in Combination with Condoms. Can J Public Health 91, 361–365 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404808

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404808

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