Abstract

Objective: To explore factors related to the use of contraceptive methods in young Chilean women with higher education. Methods: Using the 9th Chilean National Youth Survey, multinomial models were conducted to predict contraceptive methods used during the last intercourse among sexually initiated female college students aged 17-29 years who had already completed high school (n = 1828). Results; The results indicate that using contraceptive methods at onset sexual activity was positively associated with the use of all contraceptive methods (relative risk ratio [RRR](immediate) = 3.97, RRRdaily = 2.95, RRRlong-term = 1.82, P < 0.05). Having a previous unintended pregnancy increased the odds of using long-term contraceptive methods (RRR = 2.13, P < 0.05). Increased age of sexual initiation was associated with increased odds of using immediate contraception methods (RRRadolescence = 2.57, RRRyoung adulthood = 3.75, P < 0.05). Substance use was not associated with contraception methods used. Medium socioeconomic status, compared with high, decreased the odds of using immediate and daily contraceptive methods (RRR = 0.26, P < 0.05 for both). Low socioeconomic status was associated with decreased odds of using daily contraception (RRR = 0.39, P < 0.05). Finally, incomplete (RRR = 2.21, P < 0.05) or complete (RRR = 2.38, P < 0.05) professional education increased the odds of immediate contraceptive methods. Conclusions: To generate family planning policies aimed at university students, individual factors related to sexual behavior should be addressed in accordance with the local reality and with a gender focus.