Medical Knowledge, Religious Beliefs, and Free Will: Attitudes and Opinions of Various Undergraduate Female Respondents Regarding Oral Contraception. A Questionnaire-Based Study

Bianca-Eugenia Ősz, Ruxandra Ștefănescu, Amelia Tero-Vescan, Andreea Sălcudean, Cristina-Diana Boca, George Jîtcă and Camil-Eugen Vari
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Bianca-Eugenia Ősz: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureş (UMPhST), 540142 Târgu Mures, Romania
Ruxandra Ștefănescu: Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureş (UMPhST), 540142 Târgu Mures, Romania
Amelia Tero-Vescan: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureş (UMPhST), 540142 Târgu Mures, Romania
Andreea Sălcudean: Department of Ethics and Social Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureş (UMPhST), 540142 Târgu Mures, Romania
Cristina-Diana Boca: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureş (UMPhST), 540142 Târgu Mures, Romania
George Jîtcă: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureş (UMPhST), 540142 Târgu Mures, Romania
Camil-Eugen Vari: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureş (UMPhST), 540142 Târgu Mures, Romania

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-9

Abstract: The decision to use oral contraception varies and is based on several considerations: Personal reasons, the evaluation of the benefit/ risk ratio, and religious beliefs. In this research, a questionnaire was distributed to 422 female students from the George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureş, Romania (UMPhST Târgu Mureș, Romania), aged between 19 and 24 years old. The first endpoint of the study was to evaluate the use of hormonal contraception by the sexually active female population. The second endpoint was to assess the degree of awareness of the benefit/risk ratio of oral contraceptive use. The third endpoint was to evaluate the influence of religious beliefs regarding the decision to use this type of pharmaceutical product. Our results show that only a small percentage of students chose to use oral contraceptive pills (OCP). Fortunately, most of the respondents were well-informed and used a particular contraceptive drug based on a healthcare professional’s recommendation. Another aspect that emphasizes the choice of contraceptive method is the religious affiliation, which could influence the decision to use OCP. For the students with medical knowledge, the advice of a healthcare professional seems to be quite important, because they are aware of the risks of improper use of OCP. Although religious doctrines affect the decision to use oral contraception, this is not always taken into account, as the use of OCP is a personal decision.

Keywords: oral contraceptive pill; student; religion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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