Premarital Counseling Clinic at Chulalongkorn Hospital
Abstract DAMRONG REINPRAYOON, M.D.*, SUVIT BUNY A VEJCHEVIN, M.D.*
Affiliation : * Family Planning Unit, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University. Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Background : The premarital counseling clinic at Chulalongkorn Hospital was established in 1978. The characteristics and sexual background were reviewed. Aim : To study characteristics, sexual background and choices of contraceptions of premarital couples attending the premarital counseling clinic at Chulalongkorn Hospital during the past ten years. (1988-1998). Design : Descriptive study Material and Method : Two hundred couples (men (M) and women (W) attending the premarital clinic at Chulalongkorn Hospital from July 1988 to January 1998 were recruited in the study. The counseling program included medical counseling, sex education and family planning counseling. The information of couples was recorded by the Family Planning Unit staff and the residents. Results : The mean age was 31.5±4.3 yrs. (M), 28.9±3.8 yrs. (W). Most of the couples had a bachelor's degree education (61.5% - M; 72% - W). Most of them were employees (64.0% - M; 60.0% - W), had an income of 10,000-20,000 baht per month (39.0% - M; 38.0% - W) were Buddhist 97.0 per cent (M), 93.0 per cent (W). There were only 4 couples who had an abnormal physical examination. 85.5 per cent of the men had had sexual experience before while it was only 23.0 per cent in women. Most of the men had frequent masturbation 3-4 times/month (31.5% ) and most of the women had no masturbation (86.0%) at all. Most of the couples (71.5o/c) chose to have contraception (contraceptive pill 57.5% and condom 20.0% ). Conclusion : Premarital counseling should be adjusted to the background of the couples. Most couples had a high income and education. Sex counseling is important for couples especially women. The propagation of premarital clinic encourages further study and to outreach the general population of Thailand.
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