Contraceptive Knowledge and Influencing Factors Among University Students in Shanghai, China: A Cross-Sectional Study
# Maoting Tian and Jiayang Zhang contributed equally to this study.
Objective: This study aimed to assess the contraceptive knowledge of university students and identify the key factors influencing this knowledge. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 388 university students in Shanghai was conducted using consecutive sampling. Data were collected via an online survey, including demographic information, sexual behavior, and the Chinese version of the Contraceptive Knowledge Assessment (CKA) Scale. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, t-tests, and multivariate regression were used to identify predictors of contraceptive knowledge. Results: Among the 388 respondents (68.3% female, 31.7% male), 95.88% were undergraduates, and 45.1% were from medical-related majors. The average CKA score was 6.5 (SD = 3.36), indicating low contraceptive knowledge. The highest knowledge was for condoms, emergency contraception, and oral contraceptives. However, misconceptions persisted, with 5.93% believing vaginal douching was a contraceptive method, and 8.76% unaware that unprotected sex can lead to pregnancy. Online platforms were the primary information source, while schools and families provided insufficient education. CKA scores were positively correlated with selfperceived knowledge and correct knowledge of contraceptive methods. Conclusion: University students have limited contraceptive knowledge with significant misconceptions, underscoring the need for improved sexual education that involves schools, families, and healthcare institutions.
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