Contraceptives Knowledge and Perception: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Future Pharmacists in Jordan

Figures & data

Table 1 Description of the Questionnaire

Section	Number of items	Purpose	Description
One	Five items	Collected the demographic ‎data of the students	This part included the year of study, gender, marital status, university type, and elective training.
Two	Eight items	Assessed the general knowledge of contraception	“Yes” and “No” questions, such as (Common side effects of contraceptive pills include ‎weight gain and mood swings) and (To get birth control pills, a woman must have a ‎pelvic exam‎). Each ‎correct answer received a score of 1, while each incorrect answer received a ‎zero score. So, the total scores ranged from 0 to 8.
Three	Seven items	Evaluated the awareness about contraception to see if they have any misconceptions about it‎.	A 1 to 5-point Likert scale was used (strongly disagree to strongly agree). So, the total scores ranged from 7 to 35. Some of these questions: “Contraceptive methods ‎bring more damage ‎than benefit to health‎”, “The use of ‎contraceptive methods ‎in young people will ‎increase the risk of ‎infertility in the future”, and “Only women are ‎responsible for using contraceptives”)
Four	Eight items	Assessed senior pharmacy students’ perception of contraception.	A 1 to 5-point Likert scale was used (strongly disagree to strongly agree). So, the scores ranged from 8 to 40. Some of the included items were: “The use of condoms reduces ‎sexual pleasure‎”.

Notes: Adapted from Elkalmi RM, Khan MU, Ahmad A, et al. Knowledge, awareness, and perception of contraception among senior pharmacy students in Malaysia: a pilot study. J Res Pharm Pract. 2015;4(2):94–98. doi:10.4103/2279-042X.155760¹¹

Table 2 The Sociodemographic Characteristics of the Study’s Participants

Characteristics	Number of Respondents N (%)
Year of study
4th-year students	138 (44.5)
5th-year students	172 (55.5)
Gender
Male	110 (35.5)
Female	200 (64.5)
Marital status
Single	302 (97.4)
Married	8 (2.6)
University
Public	114 (36.8)
Private	196 (63.2)
Elective training
Hospital	49 (15.8)
Community pharmacy	237 (76.5)
None	24 (7.7)

Table 3 Knowledge Measurement of Contraceptive Methods

Statements	Correct Responses N (%)	Incorrect Responses N (%)
Have you ever heard of contraceptive methods?	310 (100)	0 (0)
The risk of getting certain types of cancer (eg, ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer) in women can be reduced by birth control pills	212 (68.4)	98 (31.6)
A woman will not be able to get pregnant for at least two months after she has stopped taking birth control pills	215 (69.4)	95 (30.6)
Male condoms can protect against sexually transmitted diseases	251 (81)	59 (19)
Common side effects of contraceptive pills include weight gain and mood swings	284 (91.6)	26 (8.4)
It is safe to have sex during the infertile period	136 (43.9)	174 (56.1)
There is an increased risk of breast cancer in women taking estrogen-containing oral contraceptives	245 (79)	65 (21)
In order to get birth control pills, a woman must have a pelvic exam	136 (43.9)	174 (56.1)

Notes: Adapted from Elkalmi RM, Khan MU, Ahmad A, et al. Knowledge, awareness, and perception of contraception among senior pharmacy students in Malaysia: a pilot study. J Res Pharm Pract. 2015;4(2):94–98. doi:10.4103/2279-042X.155760.¹¹

Table 4 Awareness Measurement of Contraception Methods

Questions	Participant Response N (%)
	Strongly Agree	Agree	Not Sure	Disagree	Strongly Disagree
Only women are responsible to use a contraceptive method	29 (9.4)	41 (13.2)	22 (7.1)	97 (31.3)	121 (39)
Contraceptive methods bring more damage than benefit to health	10 (3.2)	65 (21)	61 (19.7)	120 (38.7)	54 (17.4)
Contraceptive methods can protect the health of family and society	36 (11.6)	121 (39)	82 (26.5)	50 (16.1)	19 (6.1)
The use of contraceptive methods in young people will increase the risk of infertility in the future	26 (8.4)	107 (34.5)	132 (42.6)	37 (11.9)	8 (2.6)
Contraceptive pills will not guarantee 100% contraception	131 (42.3)	131 (42.3)	23 (7.4)	20 (6.5)	5 (1.6)
It is appropriate to change to another contraception method in case of experiencing side effects from one method	82 (26.5)	180 (58.1)	26 (8.4)	20 (6.5)	2 (0.6)

Notes: Adapted from Elkalmi RM, Khan MU, Ahmad A, et al. Knowledge, awareness, and perception of contraception among senior pharmacy students in Malaysia: a pilot study. J Res Pharm Pract. 2015;4(2):94–98. doi:10.4103/2279-042X.155760.¹¹

Table 5 Perception Measurement of Contraception Methods

Questions	Participant Response N (%)
	Strongly Agree	Agree	Not Sure	Disagree	Strongly Disagree
According to Islamic teaching, the use of a contraceptive method is considered a permissible action when needed	46 (14.8)	97 (31.3)	113 (36.5)	41 (13.2)	13 (4.2)
It is unnecessary to purchase contraceptive	34 (11)	148 (47.7)	54 (17.4)	64 (20.6)	10 (3.2)
Courage is needed to purchase condoms from pharmacies	28 (9)	88 (28.4)	40 (12.9)	110 (35.5)	44 (14.2)
The use of condoms may reduce sexual pleasure during intercourse	35 (11.3)	35 (11.3)	188 (60.6)	39 (12.6)	13 (4.2)
The contraceptive methods may reduce the fear of unplanned pregnancy	49 (15.8)	149 (48.1)	66 (21.3)	34 (11)	12 (3.9)
It is complicated to use contraceptive methods	7 (2.3)	37 (11.9)	88 (28.4)	143 (46.1)	35 (11.3)
Education about contraception should be introduced in the early years of university study in medical fields	169 (54.5)	117 (37.7)	16 (5.2)	6 (1.9)	2 (0.6)
The health care providers must provide counseling on contraceptive methods, mechanism of action, the best time to use, and possible side effects for all women	196 (63.2)	83 (26.8)	25 (8.1)	0 (0)	6 (1.9)
Discussion about contraception with a spouse is embarrassing	12 (3.9)	29 (9.4)	27 (8.7)	134 (43.2)	108 (34.8)

Notes: Adapted from Elkalmi RM, Khan MU, Ahmad A, et al. Knowledge, awareness, and perception of contraception among senior pharmacy students in Malaysia: a pilot study. J Res Pharm Pract. 2015;4(2):94–98. doi:10.4103/2279-042X.155760.¹¹

Table 6 Differences in Knowledge, Awareness, and Perception Scores Among the Participants Using the Mann–Whitney U-Test and Kruskal–Wallis Test

Variable	N	Knowledge			Awareness			Perception
		Mean Rank	Test value (U)	p-value	Mean Rank	Test value (U)	p-value	Mean Rank	Test value (U)	p-value
Year of study
4th year	138	138.16	14,261.5	0.002	140.26	13,971.5	0.007	147.01	13,039	0.134
5th year	172	169.42			167.73			162.31
Gender
Male	110	155.11	11,043	0.953	146.79	11,958.5	0.202	151.82	11,404.05	0.591
Female	200	155.72			160.29			157.52
University
Governmental	114	144.36	12,441.5	0.084	148.39	11,983	0.284	162.08	10,422
Private	196	161.98			159.64			151.67		0.322
Training^a
Hospital	49	134.18	test statistic= 4.808^a		130.05			167.46	1.046	0.593
Community	237	161.44		0.090	166.49	17.272	<0.001	153.32
None	24	140.40			98.90			152.60

Notes: ^aKruskal–Wallis test was done for this variable (more than two categories).

Elkalmi RM, Khan MU, Ahmad A, et al. Knowledge, awareness, and perception of contraception among senior pharmacy students in Malaysia: a pilot study. J Res Pharm Pract. 2015;4(2):94–98. doi:10.4103/2279-042X.155760

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