Adolescents' Knowledge of Sexuality and Perceptions Regarding Teenage Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study among Secondary School Students in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria (original) (raw)
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Knowledge and Perception of Teenage Pregnancy in a Semi-Urban Setting in Rivers State, Nigeria
2021
Background: The case of sexual behavior in adolescents is increasingly worrisome because teenage sexual behavior is now exceeding the limits and quite alarming. This is supported by research an increasing pattern in adolescent pregnancy in sub-Sahara Africa. Methods: An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to conduct a crosssectional study of knowledge and perception of 200 adolescent females was carried out in a semiurban area in Rivers state, Nigeria. Results: About 61% of the respondents are reportedly sexually active and 39% are not sexually active while 70.0% of the respondents had poor knowledge of teenage pregnancy and 30.0% had good knowledge of teenage pregnancy. About 33.3% of respondents with good knowledge of teenage pregnancy was between 13-16 years old and 56.67% of individuals with good knowledge had tertiary education. It was observed that 76% of the sexually active respondents had poor knowledge of teenage pregnancy and only 60.3% of the non-sexually active persons had poor knowledge. The analysis shows that most of the sexually active persons had poor knowledge of teenage pregnancy (chi-square = 5.78 p =0.016) and the likelihood of poor knowledge was 1.2 times (95% C.I: 1.0-1.5) more among the sexually active adolescents. The findings also showed that 52% think peer pressure leads to teenage pregnancy, 78% indicated that poor sexual
Teenage pregnancy has been a global health issue for more than three decades. Nearly 16 million of 15-19-year-old girls give birth each year, and most are found in developing countries. The frequency of teenage pregnancy among the youth is alarming and has become more or less a fact of life in many nations of the world which Ghana is no exception. Teenage pregnancy has also become a public concern which has generated a great deal of attention among policy makers and the general public in Ghana. In spite of having a much publicized and well coordinated sex education programme, teenage pregnancy in Ghana still remains unacceptably high. The purpose of this study was to assess the perception of teenage youth on teenage pregnancy in Ghana using Teshie Tebibiano as a case study. The study was intended to contribute to a deeper understanding of the issue, by exploring teenagers’ own perceptions on the matter, in order to identify factors that, in their view, may influence the risk of pregnancy and suggest possible interventions. A qualitative approach was employed and thirty (30) teenagers between the ages of 12 and 20 years were sampled using a purposive sampling technique. The study revealed among others that teen age youth knowledge on teenage pregnancy is high and generally perceive teenage pregnancy to be negative; Lack of family/parental relation/control, peer influence, socio-economic status such as poverty and inadequate contraceptive knowledge/use among teenage youth are the most contributory factors to teenage pregnancy. However, curiosity, cases of rape, low self-esteem and lack of sex education are some of the alternative factors that can contribute to teenage pregnancy; Teenage youth’ ignorance of contraceptives, peer pressure on the use contraceptives and the attitudes of contraceptive (service) providers are the reasons for the low contraceptive use among teenage youth which can lead to increase in the rate of teenage pregnancy; Disruption of school (school dropout) and health risk associated with teenage pregnancy are the most effect of teenage pregnancy; Sex education and parental control are the best and most effective means (interventions) to reduce or prevent teenage pregnancy; the school and the family are the most appropriate and effective institution to use in dealing with teenage pregnancy; and there is high negative perception about the media particularly television among teenage youth with regards to the issue of teenage pregnancy due to the sexual content in some of their programmes.
African journal of reproductive health, 2009
Adolescence is marked by progression from the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics to sexual and reproductive maturity. Curiosity about bodily changes is heightened. However, adolescents' perceived sexuality education needs have been poorly documented. A survey of 989 adolescents from 24 North-Eastern Nigerian secondary schools yielded information on socio-demographic characteristics, reproductive health knowledge, sexual activities and sexuality education needs. Of the interviewed respondents, 72% of females had experienced menstruation. Overall, 9% were sexually active, 3.1% knew when ovulation occurs, 47% knew pregnancy could result from first coitus and 56% knew of contraception. 84% opined that adolescents should be given sexuality education but only 48.3% had received any. Sexuality education should be provided for in-school adolescents through their preferred and reliable sources of information.
Education and Sexuality: Towards Addressing Adolescents' Reproductive Health Needs in Nigeria
The aim of this study is to assess the crucial role of sexuality education in addressing adolescents' reproductive health needs within the backdrops of immense challenges in Nigerian environment. Young people have been well documented as a special need group in the area of reproductive health. Adolescent sexuality and reproductive health are important contemporary concerns especially for reproductive health problems such as early marriage, unintended/unwanted pregnancy, maternal mortality and sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS. A large number of adolescents in Nigeria decide to be more sexually active without access to preventive measure, such as condoms or family planning devices and thus face undesired consequences, including unwanted pregnancies, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), including the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and the social consequences of both. In fact, adolescents have a higher prevalence of most reproductive health problems because of lack of information and poor access to service. However, one of the 2004 Nigerian National Population Policy objectives is increasing the integration of adolescents and young people into development efforts and effectively addressing their reproductive health and related needs. The study, which relies mainly on secondary data, examines the crucial role and benefits of sexuality education against the backdrops of the challenges including reaching the youths with sexuality and reproductive information and service, or motivating them to change behavior in the light of new information and awareness, more institutional support and creating the social and economic climate, which will make the desired changes possible and sustainable. The author contends that it is a violation of ones fundamental human rights and freedom guaranteed by numerous international, regional and national policies as well as legal instruments when attempts are made to control rather than educate people to freely express their sexuality positively and in good health. Thus, there is need for all stakeholders to acknowledge the reality of adolescent sexuality and teach them how to be healthy sexual beings without endangering themselves and others.
African Journal of Reproductive Health, 2004
This study utilises a qualitative approach to elicit the reproductive health concerns of girls at a Christian summer camp with a view to making recommendations on how to improve the content and process of future sessions. The girls asked questions anonymously about various aspects of their sexuality, which were analysed to identify emergent themes. There were 75 participants with ages ranging from childhood to late adolescence (7-21 years). The different levels of cognitive development are clearly illustrated in the types of questions asked. The late adolescents focused on coping with relationships and demands for sex. The early and middle adolescents focused on their feelings, relationships, menstruation and breast size. Those in childhood (7-11 years) appeared totally ignorant about parts of their body. Myths and misconceptions were identified in all age groups. Future sessions should address the peculiar needs of these different age groups. Christian and other religious groups should work with health educators to develop realistic teaching guidelines that focus on the everyday concerns of the youth. ( 2004; 8[3]:27-37 )
Perception Of In-school Teenagers On Teenage Pregnancy
Background Teenage pregnancy is a major medical and socioeconomic burden in both the developed and developing countries. One third of the abortions performed yearly and 80% of abortion-related complications in Nigeria occur in adolescents. This study was conducted to assess the perception of teenagers in secondary school on teenage pregnancy. Methods The study is a descriptive cross sectional study involving teenagers in senior secondary classes of Ikeja High School, Ikeja, Lagos State. Results A total of 250 teenagers were recruited. The mean age was 15.1±0.4 years while the mean age of sexual debut was 15.4 years. Majority of participants were aware of teenage pregnancy and felt that lack of parental guidance was the major predisposing factor to teenage pregnancy. About 73% of the respondents were sexually active. Although majority were aware of the modern contraceptive methods, only 9.9% of the sexually active teenagers used contraceptives consistently. The fear of making others aware of their sexual activities was the major reason for the non-utilization of contraceptives. Conclusion There is a need for strong parental support and the establishment of more youth-friendly services in Lagos State.
Unintended pregnancy among female adolescents is a global phenomenon and remains a significant problem. It occurs in both developed and developing nations but with variations in degree and consequences on the social factors involved. Globally, sub-Saharan Africa ranks highest in teenage pregnancy and lowest in contraceptive use. Recent estimates by World Health Organization show that 16 million girls aged between 15 and 19 give birth every year. In Nigeria nearly one-quarter (23%) of adolescent girls are already mothers or pregnant with their first child. The aim of this study was to determine the perception of adolescents in secondary school towards the prevention of teenage pregnancy. Some factors perceived by the students to influence teenage pregnancy include family type (73.9%), religion (73.9%), peer pressure (88.7%), and poverty (83.7%). The students also believed teenage pregnancy brings disgrace (78.8%), prevents one from finishing school education (83.7%) and could lead to abortion (73.9%). Students perceived that parents have a role to play in preventing teenage pregnancy by monitoring their children's movement (69%), give sex education (70.4%) and know their children's friends (69%). They also agree that teenagers too can prevent early pregnancy by not having premarital sex (76.3%), travel in groups to avoid sexual harassment (78.8%) and make their movements known (59.1%). Sex education that is responsible and medically accurate both in school and at home is important in the prevention of teenage pregnancy. Increased uptake and use of contraception will also help to reduce teenage pregnancy.
Background / Objectives: In many developing countries, people belief that withholding information about sex for young people will discourage sexual intercourse at early age. This makes adolescents more vulnerable to ST1 / HIV infections and the risk of unwanted pregnancy resulting from early initiation to unprotected sex. Introduction of sex education into schools is being opposed by parents. community and religious leaders. This study determines the sexual behaviour of high school students in relation to their knowledge on sexuality education. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study using 420 secondary school students selected by multi-stage random sampling. Self administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant data and analysis was done using EPI 2000 software package.
Young people have been well documented as special need group in the area of reproductive health. Adolescent sexuality and reproductive health are important contemporary concerns especially for reproductive health problems such as early marriage, unintended/unwanted pregnancy, maternal mortality and sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS. There are yet many unmet reproductive health needs for the African adolescents despite the many reproductive health programmes which have been initiated in the last decade. Hence, this study examines the challenges of adolescents" sexual and reproductive health in northern Nigeria. Primary data were obtained using qualitative methods. Thirty-six focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among adolescents aged 15-19 years, stratified by sex, marital status, fertility status and residence; and 48 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with community-resident adolescents who have ever married or/and have begun childbearing. Results show that teenage marriage and childbearing is a highly cherished activity among adolescents in northwestern Nigeria, consequently their attitudes were largely pronatalist. Knowledge of contraceptive methods clearly exists but gender-biased, even though contraceptive approval and use was low. Sense of vulnerability and fear clearly exist as a number of participants expressed lack of courage to confront appropriate authorities, including their parents with reproductive health issues. Motivations for teenage marriage and childbearing reflect various levels of influence, such as parental pressure and social norms, individual needs, including socio-economic survival. There is need for intervention strategies to tackle issues relating to empowerment, and access to resources, improved information and services.
African Journal of Reproductive Health, 2003
Eight hundred and ninety six adolescents aged 11-25 years were recruited into this study using a multi-stage random sampling method. Overall, about 33% of them had already had first sexual experience but more males than females reported having experienced first sexual encounter. Only 3.6% of the respondents were married. One half of the sexually experienced adolescents had more than one sexual partner at the time of the study. Majority of the respondents (91.9%) had heard about HIV/AIDS and at least a STD. A wide disparity was found in knowledge and use of the contraceptive methods studied, ranging from 41.9% to 63.8% for knowledge and from 0.7% to 12.5% for use. Knowledge and use of condom was highest. For prevention of HIV/AIDS, more males than females thought condom was useful. More Gwari and Hausa respondents claimed that they did not use any family planning method during their first sexual relationship than Yoruba and Igbo respondents. There is need for reproductive health programmes to intensify efforts towards improving adolescents' attitudes to risky sexual behaviours and motivate them to undertake behaviours that would limit such risks.