Contraception use in Malta

Charles Savona-Ventura Department of Obstetrics Gynaecology University of Malta Medical School Mater Dei University Hospital, Malta [email protected] Abstract Temporal surveys of family control methods being used within the Maltese setting carried out in the 1970's and 1990's had shown a definite shift towards the more effective methods of contraception. The present study was carried out on a mixed gender population of 211 individuals with a strong bias towards the highly educated sector of the population. The respondents reported a higher rate of family control that in previous studies with a greater reliance on the effective methods particularly the barrier method, hormonal manipulation, and sterilisation. The latter appeared to be an option limited to the older age groups rather than in the young. There has been a further significant decrease in reliance to the natural methods of contraception including the rhythm method supported by the Roman Catholic Church and coitus interruptus. The study further confirms the increasing secularisation and distancing from traditional values that is occurring in the Maltese population. Introduction The Maltese population traditionally harbours Roman Catholic beliefs that have permeated to the social aspects of sexuality practiced within the community. This influence was well documented by a survey carried out in 1971 that assessed the contraceptive attitudes of the Maltese population. This survey showed that only about 16% of the population were using an effective method of contraception; while about 40% of women were using the rhythm method accepted by the Roman Catholic Church.1 The subsequent decades have seen a trend within the community towards more liberal sexual attitudes associated with the gradual move towards secularisation.2 The change in sexual attitudes is expected to have been associated with a change in contraceptive practices. This present study sets out to assess the current contraceptive practices used by the Maltese population.