ADOLESCENTS KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF CONTRACEPTION.A STUDY OF S E C O N D A R Y S C H O O L STUDENTS - KISUMU DISTRICT

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to examine the knowledge, attitudes and practice of contraception among the adolescents in secondary schools in Kisumu District. A sample of 400 students aged between 14 and 20 years was randomly drawn from the student population within the district. In the study, social, cultural, economic and demographic variables are examined. The social variables include parents level of education, students’ exposure to mass media, and the effect of HIV/AIDS. Cultural variables include parents religion, family composition desire, and desired family size. Economic variables include parents occupation and usual place of residence. Finally, demographic variables include age, sex, number of siblings, birth order type of parental union (marriage) and the students’ age at first sexual intercourse. The list of all secondary schools in Kisumu District provided the sampling frame from which sample schools were selected. From the selected schools, the next stage was to select the classes and the individual respondents. Random sampling was done in each and every, stage and the data was collected by the use of questionnaires. The major statistical techniques used in data analysis are frequencies, percentages, cross tabulation, chi-square, multiple regression and logistic regression analysis . The smdy found that most of the adolescents are aware of family planning methods but they were not familiar with the application of most of the methods. Mass media and specifically radio (88.5 %) and newspapers (73%) were the main and the most frequent source of information on family planning methods. Most adolescents are in favour of contraception and they are also of the opinion that family planning IV education should be introduced in the school syllabus. The number of contraceptive methods known and tire number of contraceptives whose application are known is best explained by adolescents parents high level of education, those whose age at first sexual intercourse is between 16 to 20 years, and those of the protestant faith. The family planning methods known to the adolescents were as follows: Condoms (93.5 %), Pill (80.3 %) and Injection (59.8 %). While Norplant (8.3%) was the least known. It was also found that adolescents have positive attitude towards contraceptive mainly because of HIV/AIDS pandemic. With regard to actual practice, about 24 % of the adolescents were using contraceptives at the time of the survey. The condom followed, by the pill are the main contraceptive methods used by both male and female adolescents. This is mainly due to the strong attitude they have that condom is the safest way of preventing unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. The results also shows that female adolescents were using contraceptives more than their male counterparts. Practice of contraceptives is also best explained by the adolescents high birth order, the fear of adverse effects of HIV/AIDS, parents high level of education and occupation, and adolescents age at first sexual intercourse between 16 to 20 years. It is recommended that family life education be introduced in schools wjjh a view of making teenagers understand the consequences of early sexual intercourse and how they avoid it. Parents and teachers have a role to play in counselling adolescents on family life education and more importantly on HIV/AIDS which is making significant in-road among the adolescents population, radio, newspapers and books/pamphlets should be used to reach the teenagers on family planning issues.