Contraceptive use and attitudes toward family planning in Navy enlisted women and men.

Little is known about the contraceptive behavior and beliefs of Navy personnel. Nevertheless, the Navy, in its role as primary medical provider for its personnel, needs to know whether sailors have access to effective birth control and are sufficiently informed about contraception to make wise choices. As part of the Women Aboard Navy Ships Comprehensive Health and Readiness Project conducted at the Naval Health Research Center in San Diego, California, contraceptive use and attitudes toward family planning were assessed through a survey administered to 714 enlisted women and 665 enlisted men on 15 ships. Contraceptive use was not related to gender, age, marital status, pay grade, race, or education. More favorable family planning attitudes were related to contraceptive use. Women and men differed in their attitudes toward family planning, with women's responses more positive than men's. The results highlight the need for research focusing on the effect of attitudes on contraceptive behavior.