UW Chinese and Taiwanese students' attitudes towards the use of contraception

Abstract

Purpose: To ascertain the influence of cultural factors on undergraduate and graduate Chinese and Taiwanese students’ attitudes towards contraception. Methods: Qualitative methods included a demographic survey, and in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Based on an adapted Social-Ecological Model (SEM), the interview guide contained 20 questions to capture each SEM level and measure of “culture”: family structure, communication, and social environment. Data Collection: 13 interviews were conducted from January to March 2020. Participants were domestic (4), international (8), and exchange (1) students. Average interview length was 36 minutes. Participants were recruited through email and digital flyers distributed to student organizations at a major academic university in the Pacific Northwest. Participants completed a demographic survey and interviewed in person. One interview was conducted online, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed using Otter. Analysis: A thematic analysis was conducted. Categories of data included: family structure, communication, social environment, views on premarital sex, views on contraception, and sex education. 12 themes emerged from across and within the six categories. A second coder validated the codes for inter-rater reliability. Interviews were coded using Dedoose. Findings: Important themes included: intergenerational and peer communication, parent-child interactions, and traditional Confucian culture. Participants maintain positive or neutral attitudes towards contraception. While sex education topics remain taboo, students are open to learning more. Communication is the most influential cultural factor. Implications: Healthcare providers should proactively address sex education topics and contraception during office visits. Public health practitioners should also partner with student organizations to deliver workshops and create open dialogue about sex education topics.