Abstract
BackgroundThe female condom (FC) is the only safe and effective female-initiated method that provides simultaneous protection against unintended pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS. Knowledge of FC use among women and the perceptions and attitudes towards condom use can contribute to its uptake as an important public health strategy for HIV prevention in Ghana. However, there is a dearth of empirical evidence in this area of public health research to inform interventions. This study seeks to examine women’s knowledge, acceptance and utilisation of the FC and factors that influence its acceptance and utilisation.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used and a total of 380 females between the ages of 15 and 49 years were sampled from the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region, Ghana. A self-administered structured questionnaire measuring the study variables was used, and frequencies, percentages and Chi Square tests were used to analyse the data.ResultsThere is low level of FC use among the women as less than half (48.4%) of the sample were aware of the FC. It was further observed that 21.1, 21.8 and 11.1% of the sample reported friends, media and a public lecture as their sources of knowledge of the FC respectively. It was also observed that there is a low level of FC acceptance and utilisation, and also limited access to the FC from nearby shops/pharmacies (1.8%) and health centres (7.4%).ConclusionsThere is a generally low level of FC awareness, knowledge, acceptance and utilisation and therefore, there is the need for increased public education on the FC and its benefits to women in preventing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
Highlights
The female condom (FC) is the only safe and effective female-initiated method that provides simultaneous protection against unintended pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
Demographic profile of the participants and female condom awareness Results in Table 1 showed that the overall percentage awareness of FC usage among the women of reproductive age sampled for this study was 48.4%
Descriptive analysis showed that females between the ages of 18 and years comprised of 23.7% of the sample while 39.5, 33.2 and 3.7% of the total sample were between the ages of and 35 years, 36 and years and and 55 years respectively
Summary
The female condom (FC) is the only safe and effective female-initiated method that provides simultaneous protection against unintended pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS. Several negative consequences have been found to be associated with lack of contraceptive use among women most especially the use of the FC and some of these include unwanted pregnancies which predispose these women to severe socioeconomic and psychological challenges [7,8,9] These women could contract chronic sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, Chancroid, Trichomoniasis, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Genital Warts among others, which could have severe consequences for the health and wellbeing of these women and their unborn babies in cases of pregnancy. The same study did not mention FC use even though it is thought that the condoms offer the safest and most effective protection against STIs and unwanted pregnancies
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
