Educational needs of low-dose OCP users in Bandar Abbas, 2005

Introduction: The first step for promoting the health status of low-dose OCP users about pregnancy prevention and related subjects, is determining their educational needs. Unfortunately, figures dedicated that the rate of unwanted pregnancy is high in Bandar Abbas. For the illiterate participants, we used oral questions. Because most of these women use low-dose OCP for family planning, we have surveyed their educational needs. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study we have surveyed the educational needs of 1000 women who used low-dose OCP, by means of a questionnaire. Then all data were analysed by SPSS software and variance analysis. Results: 89% of objects and 92% of their husbands were literate. Statistical test have proven a significant correlation between objects’literacy level and decreased educational needs, but some educational needs in different domains of knowledge, attitude and application were observed. Conclusion: High level of literacy is a powerful factor in health promotion. In this study, in spite of high literacy in the population, there were some educational needs, which is probably related to the cultural believes or lack of suitable health issues education to this population.