Adolescents' perspective regarding adolescent pregnancy, sexuality and contraception

Abstract

To investigate the attitudes and perceptions of youths regarding adolescent pregnancy, in order to appraise their understanding of sexuality, contraception and why adolescents failed to use contraceptives. This is a descriptive survey of a group of 163 students in their junior clinical postings in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Benin. The participants completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire which elicited information on perceptions, attitude, beliefs and their knowledge about adolescent pregnancy, prevention and utilization of contraception. Overall, majority of the participants held a negative attitude about adolescent pregnancy with over 85% regarding it as wrong and considered it to be associated with medical, socio-economic and educational problems. Peer pressure to have sex (71.8%%) had the highest rating on participants perceptions pertaining to the causes of adolescent pregnancy, other items rated were ignorance on basics of sexuality and pregnancy (60.1%) and being forced or coerced/refusal by boys/men to use condoms (52.1%). Condom was reported as the most common method youths/adolescents used in attempting to prevent pregnancy (38.1%), albeit, majority (69.3%) reported poor uptake of contraception by adolescents. Common reasons cited why adolescent/youths do not use contraceptives were: feeling embarrassed or ashamed to use or purchase condom/contraceptives (68.7%) and male partner dislikes for condoms (50.3%). An overwhelming majority (87.1%) of respondents thought that private access to condoms would increase uptake. Although youths have a negative attitude towards adolescent pregnancy, their perception and understanding of sexuality and contraception is poor. Useful strategies for empowering youth and changing perception/behavior should include peer education and access to simple non-judgmental information on family life. Adoption of strategies tailored to our socio-cultural background to make condoms accessible privately may improve uptake and consequently reduce the menace of adolescent pregnancy.