Objective: To analyze sexual behavior and the use of contraception among young women in Poland.
Design: Cross-sectional study.
Population: 1,478 young women in higher (78.9%) and secondary (21.1%) education.
Setting: Gdansk region in Poland.
Methods: The data were gathered between September and December 2008 by the use of a questionnaire prepared for the purpose of this study, completed anonymously and in person by the young women.
Results: Sexual activity had been initiated by 67.2% of the women studied at a mean age of 18.7 years (±1.97). Assessment was made of changes in their contraceptive practice between the time of sexual initiation and later sexual activity. Since their first experience of intercourse 67.0% did not change their contraceptive methods. As many as 40.1% continued using either low effective methods or no contraception. Early sexual initiation was linked to a significantly lower likelihood of highly effective contraception, more frequent unprotected sexual intercourse and more sexual partners (p < 0.05). Over half of women assigned to a 'high-risk' group with regard to the chance of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection, declared that their behavior did not carry any risk, similar (p > 0.05) to those who did not have a history of hazardous behavior.
Conclusion: Sexual behavior differentiates Polish women from the women in Western Europe. Despite the welcome tendency toward choosing reliable contraceptives, use of appropriate contraception is still insufficient.