Purpose: To compare university students' knowledge about and attitudes toward the combined oral contraceptives (COC) in two countries with different pharmaceutical systems (Japan and Korea), and to explore the reasons limiting the use of the COC in these populations.
Methods: University students in Korea and Japan completed a questionnaire containing a total of 55 questions about the students' demographics (8 questions), knowledge about the COC (15 questions), attitudes toward the COC (24 questions) and the reasons for limited use of the COC among the population (8 questions).
Results: Male students' attitudes toward the COC were significantly more positive than those of female students in Korea, but not in Japan. Knowledge about and attitudes toward the COC did not differ significantly between the two countries. The age at which students desired to use the COC was significantly correlated with age in both countries. There were significant correlations between knowledge about and attitude towards the COC in both countries and between age and attitude towards the COC in Japan. In both countries, the most commonly cited reasons for limited use of the COC were concern about adverse side effects.
Conclusions: These results confirm the need to develop appropriate sex education programs in Korea and Japan. Cultural differences and differences in the pharmaceutical and medical systems between the two countries should be considered when designing sex education programs for young people in Korea and Japan.
2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.