Differentiation in contraceptive behavior of the female population in Thrace, Greece.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the factors influencing the contraceptive practice of the female population in the rural area of Thrace, Greece.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective sociopsychological study on representatives of the two major religious subgroups in Thrace: 127 Orthodox Christians and 120 Muslims. The women were reasonably representative in terms of age, education, marital status and professional life. Interviews covered sexual history and contraceptive use in detail.

RESULTS

We observed a significant preference of Christians for condoms, and of Muslims for coitus interruptus. The use of the male condom was significantly higher in younger, compared to older, Christians (p < 0.001). Muslim women aged 30-39 years showed a significant preference for coitus interruptus and intrauterine devices, as compared with Christians. Highly educated women of both subgroups did not present statistically significant differences concerning contraception. It was found that, the more intense the sexual activity, the more common the use of the condom for Christians and the more popular the choice of interrupted intercourse for Muslims. Muslims with a permanent sexual relationship preferred interrupted intercourse, while all Muslims with multiple sexual partners used the male condom.

CONCLUSIONS

There is an urgent need to promote information concerning the variety of modern contraceptive options in order to improve the prevalence of contraceptive use and reproductive health in the region of Thrace.