KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF CONTRACEPTION AMONGST SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN IBADAN NORTH-EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OYO STATE

Abstract

A KAP study among the senior secondary school students in Ibadan North-East L.G.A. of Oyo State was conducted in order to assess the factors that affect contraceptive awareness and utilisation among secondary school students. Ibadan North-East Local Government was the study area. Hypothesis and research questions were formulated for the study. The study made use of a cross sectional evaluation survey method. It assessed and documented the level of contraceptive awareness and utilisation amongst secondary school students in Ibadan North-East L.G.A of Oyo state. The study explained the relationship between demographic variables like age, sex, parental level of education and occupation, parental religious affiliation as well as their family type. It also looked at the association between the dependent variables (adolescents) and the independent variables (such as sex, age, parental socio-economic status, religious affiliation, and family type). A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed in the selection of subjects. The sample size for the study is 766 (Males, 370 and Females, 396). A total of 744 duly completed questionnaires were subsequently analysed. The result showed that 484 (65.1%) respondents had the correct knowledge of some modern methods of contraception, and out of this figure, 183(37.8%) mentioned condom as a popular method of contraception among them. Although, attitudinal disposition of the respondents towards contraceptive use was as high as 76.0%, however, the results showed a very low level of contraceptive utilisation among them (15.7%). Based on these findings, it is suggested that family life and Reproductive Health Education including contraceptive counselling services should be introduced in the secondary schools in the L.G.A.