Locus of control and contraceptive knowledge, attitude and practice among university students Locus de control y conocimiento, actitud y práctica contraceptivas entre adolescentes universitarios Lócus de controle e conhecimento, atitude e prática contraceptivas entre adolescentes universitários

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between locus of control and knowledge, attitude and practice regarding pill and condom use among university students. METHODS: The inquiry was developed in Campinas, a city in Southeastern Brazil, in 2006. A total of 295 adolescent newcomers to a public university answered a structured questionnaire and Levenson's multidimensional locus of control scale. The scores of the dimensions of locus of control were calculated and Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to assess their correlation with knowledge and practice concerning pill and condom use. In order to assess the relationship between the dimensions of locus of control and sociodemographic variables and variables related to the individuals' sex life, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used. RESULTS: Male adolescents had higher scores of powerful others externality when compared to female adolescents (p=0.01). Students living alone had lower internality (p=0.01). When locus of control was compared to condom use in the first intercourse, considering only the 102 students who informed the age of the beginning of sexual activity, greater internality was found among male adolescents who did not use condoms (p<0.05). When the locus of control scores were correlated with contraceptive knowledge and practice, it was found that the higher the powerful others externality locus, the lower the adequate use of contraceptive methods (r = -0.22, p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The powerful others externality locus influences the practice of contraceptive use in this group of adolescents.<br>OBJETIVO: Evaluar la relación del locus de control con conocimiento, actitud y práctica relacionados a la píldora y al preservativo entre adolescentes estudiantes universitarios. MÉTODOS: Estudio tipo pesquisa desarrollado en Campinas, Sureste de Brasil, en 2006. El total de 295 adolescentes ingresados de una universidad pública respondió a un cuestionario estructurado y a la escala multidimensional de locus de control de Levenson. Fueron calculados los escores de las dimensiones del locus de control y el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman para evaluar la correlación con el conocimiento y la práctica del uso de píldora y preservativo. Para evaluar la relación entre las dimensiones del locus de control y las variables sociodemográficas y variables relacionadas a la vida sexual fueron usadas las pruebas de Kruskal-Wallis y Mann-Whitney. RESULTADOS: Los adolescentes del sexo masculino presentaron mayor externalidad- otros poderosos cuando se compararon con las del sexo femenino (p=0,001). Estudiantes que vivían solos tenían una internalidad más baja (p=0,001). Cuando el locus de control fue comparado con el uso de preservativo en la primera relación sexual, considerándose apenas los 102 estudiantes que informaron la edad de inicio de la actividad sexual, fue encontrada mayor internalidad entre los adolescentes del sexo masculino que no usaron preservativo (p?0,05). Al correlacionar los escores del locus de control con el conocimiento contraceptivo y práctica, se observó que cuanto más elevado el escore del locus de control externalidad otros-poderosos, menor el uso adecuado de métodos contraceptivos (r=-0,22, p=0,03). CONCLUSIONES: El locus externalidad otros-poderosos influencia la práctica de uso de método contraceptivo en ese grupo de adolescentes.<br>OBJETIVO: Avaliar a relação do lócus de controle com conhecimento, atitude e prática relacionados à pílula e ao preservativo entre adolescentes estudantes universitários. MÉTODOS: Estudo tipo inquérito desenvolvido em Campinas, SP, em 2006. O total de 295 adolescentes ingressantes de uma universidade pública respondeu a um questionário estruturado e à escala multidimensional de lócus de controle de Levenson. Foram calculados os escores das dimensões do lócus de controle e o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman para avaliar a correlação com o conhecimento e a prática do uso de pílula e preservativo. Para avaliar a relação entre as dimensões do lócus de controle e as variáveis sociodemográficas e variáveis relacionadas à vida sexual foram usados os testes de Kruskal-Wallis e Mann-Whitney. RESULTADOS: Os adolescentes do sexo masculino apresentaram maior externalidade-outros poderosos quando comparados com as do sexo feminino (p=0,01). Estudantes que viviam sozinhos tinham uma internalidade mais baixa (p=0,01). Quando o lócus de controle foi comparado com o uso de preservativo na primeira relação sexual, considerando-se apenas os 102 estudantes que informaram a idade de início da atividade sexual, foi encontrada maior internalidade entre os adolescentes do sexo masculino que não usaram preservativo (p<0,05). Ao correlacionar os escores do lócus de controle com o conhecimento contraceptivo e prática, observou-se que quanto mais elevado o escore do lócus de controle externalidade outros-poderosos, menor o uso adequado de métodos contraceptivos (r = -0,22, p=0.03). CONCLUSÕES: O lócus externalidade outros-poderosos influencia a prática de uso de método contraceptivo nesse grupo de adolescentes

“Sex Is a sin”: Afro-Caribbean Parent and Teen Perspectives on Sex Conversations

This study characterized (a) mothers’ childhood and teenage experiences with sex conversations and (b) families’ perceptions of current parent–child sex conversations within two underserved Afro-Caribbean communities in the U.S. Fourteen dyads comprised of Haitian and Jamaican mothers and teens (aged 14–18) living in Miami, Florida, completed semi-structured interviews sharing their experiences with sex conversations. Researchers analyzed data using thematic content analysis. Mothers’ mean age was 41.85 years, (SD = 5.50) and teens’ mean age was 16.35 years, (SD = 1.31). Most mothers reported forbidden or little childhood experiences with parent–child sex conversations. They affected their sexual attitudes, behaviors, and ability to discuss sex with their children. Although some mothers benefited from educational and skill development others shared fear-based messages with their children that some teens believed adversely affected the mother–child relationship quality. Culturally appropriate, skill-based approaches are necessary to improve families’ communication self-efficacy for healthy sex conversations to occur in Afro-Caribbean families