Céline Vignes

Contraceptive use by 15-year-old students at their last sexual intercourse: results from 24 countries.

OBJECTIVES To identify and report cross-national patterns in contraceptive use among sexually active adolescents. DESIGN A cross-national cross-sectional survey. SETTING Data were collected in 2002 by self-report questionnaire from students in school classrooms. PARTICIPANTS A cluster sample of 33,943 students aged 15 years from 24 countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES International standardized questions on ever having had sexual intercourse and contraceptive use at last sexual intercourse. RESULTS The percentages of students reporting having had sexual intercourse ranged from 14.1% in Croatia to 37.6% in England; 82.3% of those who were sexually active reported that they used condoms and/or birth control pills at last intercourse. Condom use only was most frequent and ranged from 52.7% in Sweden to 89.2% in Greece. Dual use of condoms and contraceptive pills was also relatively frequent, ranging from 2.6% in Croatia to 28.8% in Canada. The use of contraceptive pills was most frequent in northern and western Europe. No contraceptive use at last intercourse was reported by 13.2% of students. CONCLUSIONS A substantial minority of 15-year-olds have engaged in sexual intercourse. Condom use is the most frequent method of contraception reported by the sexually active respondents, followed by the dual use of condoms and contraceptive pills and contraceptive pills only. The proportions of poorly protected and unprotected youth remain high, and attention to international policy and practice determinants of young sexual behavior and contraceptive use is required.

Determinants of students’ attitudes towards peers with disabilities

Aim  To explore factors associated with students’ attitudes towards their peers with disabilities.

Measuring children's attitudes towards peers with disabilities: a review of instruments

This study aimed to identify instruments for measuring childrens attitudes towards their peers with disabilities that are suitable for use in epidemiological studies and to report on their psychometric properties. A literature review was conducted to identify instruments measuring at least one of the three components of childrens attitudes (affective, behavioural, or cognitive measures) towards peers with disabilities and which are intended for self‐completion by children. Criteria used to appraise these instruments were appropriateness, acceptability, validity, reliability, internal consistency, and test‐retest reliability. Of the 19 instruments matching the inclusion criteria, 16 measured only one attitude component (affective, n=4; behavioural, n=5; cognitive, n=7); one measured cognitive and behavioural components; and two (Acceptance Scale and Chedoke‐McMaster Attitudes Towards Children with Handicaps Scale [CATCH]) measured all three components. The majority of instruments, and those most widely used, were developed in the 1970s and 80s and so do not cover some aspects relevant to current culture, although they are still being used in research. Acceptable levels of validity and reliability were reported. Detailed descriptions of the initial validation process were available for the Acceptance Scale, Adjective Checklist, CATCH, and Peer Attitudes Towards the Handicapped Scale. The Acceptance Scale and CATCH seem to be the most complete instruments among those identified as they include all three attitude components and have appropriate psychometric properties.