Introduction

Adolescent pregnancy is a serious public health concern that is associated with a lack of knowledge regarding proper and consistent contraceptive use. There is a need for educational interventions on the use of hormonal contraceptives, of which the online modality is a feasible option.

Objective

To develop and implement an online course entitled "Use of hormonal contraceptives" among adolescent students and determine its effect on learning.

Method

An online course was developed that included the following topics: the female reproductive system, the sexual cycle, and hormonal contraceptives. Knowledge was measured administering two multiple-choice tests. In 2021 we fielded a quasi-experimental pre-post study with a single group (adolescent students) enrolled in their first year of medical school attending a public university in Mexico.

Results

For the pre-post, 108 students participated, 75% women and 25% men, with an average age of 18 years. The students increased their score in the pre-post evaluation (17-21 to 22-27 correct answers) and decreased in the follow-up (20-24 correct answers), with statistically significant differences according to the t test (p<0.001). With the Friedman rank test, a mean for Instrument I was obtained, of 2.79; for instrument II, 1.32 and for the monitoring instrument, 1.89. Differences were observed between at least two groups (Chi2 33.98, df 2, p<0.001). The post hoc analysis confirmed significant differences between the pre and post evaluations and follow-up (p<0.001); although the score decreases after three months.

Conclusions

The implementation of this type of educational interventions with solid results is sufficient to justify its development and implementation.