(224) Study of utilization of oral contraceptive drugs & relevant perceptions of general population in Greece with the use of a questionnaire

Background: The endeavor of recording the grade of citizen’s familiarization with contraceptive drugs, is the first step towards the rational, safe and unstigmatized usage of this drug category.

Objectives: This study investigates personal experience, attitude and behavioral traits of citizens in Greece about oral contraceptives.

Methods: The data were collected via the online delivery and response of an anonymous survey. The participants were volunteers, adults, both male and female responders. A different survey was used between male and female participants including different sections between female users/non users. Completed questionnaires were gathered from January 2023 to March 2023.

Results: A total of 1,015 persons completed the questionnaire. In specific, 65% of the participants were female. 55% of the study population belonged to the age group 18-24 years old.
This study revealed that a majority of female respondents (65.7%) reported the use of contraceptive methods including contraceptive pills (26%) and the morning-after pill (32.2%). Male participants (67,7%) reported that they would not recommend the use of contraceptive pills to their partners while the responses of the total male population for the use of a future male contraceptive drug were divided equaly into 1/3 intention to use, no intention of using and neutral, correspondingly. Approximately, 23,3% of the study population included the morning-after pill among the methods of contraception. Regarding the side effects of the female population, 37,9% mentioned changes in the mood and 36,7% reported no side effects of the contraceptive pill therapy. It was found that the most popular reason for the use of oral contraceptive drugs was the regulation of menstrual cycle (64,5%), followed by the prevention of pregnancy (42,6%). Female participants who belonged to the age group 18-24 were more likely to use oral contraceptive drugs for the regulation of menstrual cycle than those who were older than 25 years ([OR]: 2,014 – 95% [CI]: 1,26-3,20). Additionally, among male participants, 32,3% would recommend to their partner the use of contraceptive pills and 60,7% claims that the reasoning behind it, would be to avoid an unintended pregnancy. Significant differences were observed among males in relationship and out of relationship. Male participants in relationship appeared to be more positively disposed to consider the avoidance of an unintended pregnancy as a reason for oral contraceptive medication by their partner, OR: 2,27 - (95% CI: 1,02-5,02).

Conclusions: The findings suggest that the majority of women are not currently using oral contraceptive medication. The majority of men does not agree with the use of these pills by their partners.