A community based study of contraceptive use among adolescents in Chorkor, a suburb of Accra
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Date
September, 2019
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Abstract
Introduction
Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and unwanted pregnancies among
adolescents through effective contraceptive use is a global public health challenge in adolescent
reproductive health matters. Contraception is defined as the use of a drug or device to prevent
pregnancy before or after unprotected sexual intercourse.
Aim
The main research objective of this study is to examine the use of contraceptives among
adolescents in the Chorkor community, a suburb of Accra.
Methodology
This survey adopted a cross-sectional study design to examine the factors contributing to the use
of contraceptives among adolescents (people aged 10 to 19 years old) in the Chorkor community.
Data was collected with a structured questionnaire which examined the demographic
characteristics of the adolescents and questions relating to the objectives in the study. The data
was analysed using SPSS version 20. Data was analysed descriptively and presented as counts
and proportions for categorical variables. Univariate and multivariate analysis of both dependent
and independent variables were done to establish associations among variables. Multiple
logistics regression model was employed to calculate both adjusted and unadjusted odds ratios.
Odds ratios outcomes was accepted at the 95% confidence interval and a 0.05 level of
significance.
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Findings
Four hundred and twenty-six (426) adolescents participated in the study. There were a total of
206 (48.4 %) males and 220 (51.6 %) females. The average age for the study was 14.8 years with
a standard deviation of 2.0 years. The minimum age recorded was 11 years and the maximum
age was 19 years. The study did not show any statistically significant difference in the age
distribution (p-value = 0.079).
The main importance derived from the use of contraceptives by the adolescents is the avoidance
of unwanted or unplanned pregnancies and the spread of STDs/STIs. 95.3 % of participants had
low level of knowledge about contraceptives.
There was no significant difference in gender for level of knowledge of contraceptives and the
types of contraceptives available to the adolescents (p-value = 0.498). The overall prevalence of
contraceptive use among the adolescents was 21.6 %. The prevalence of contraceptive use
among male adolescents was 18.4 %. The prevalence of contraceptive use among female
adolescents was 24.5 %. Willingness to continue with the use of contraceptives among
adolescents was 97.3 %. Factors influencing the use of contraceptives among the adolescents
included; age, education and want to avoid STDs. The methods of contraceptives currently in use
by adolescents in the Chorkor community includes; condoms, implant/injectable, IUD, natural
methods, periodic abstinence and pills. About twenty-five percent (24.6 %), nineteen percent
(18.5 %) and one percent (0.5 %) of adolescents in Chorkor knows the existence of condom, the
pill method and implant injectable respectively in the Chorkor community.
Barriers to the use of contraceptive among adolescents were; cost of contraceptives, limited
knowledge about the use of contraceptives, religious beliefs and availability of contraceptives.
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Conclusion
The use of contraceptives among adolescents in the Chorkor community is very low although
adolescents may have knowledge in at least one contraceptive method. There is a need for
continuous education on the use and importance of contraceptives through various social-media
platforms. Such educational interventions should be adolescent-centered.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, African Institute of Sanitation and Waste Management, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of a Master of Science in Environment and Public Health Degree.
Keywords
Contraceptive, Adolescents, Chorkor,