Perceptions toward contraception among secondary school adolescent girls in Dar es salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Adolescent reproductive and sexual health has become a senous concern as it IS associated with HIV and AIDS pandemic as well as teenage pregnancy, illegal abortion and childbearing, health and economic problems. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using self-administered questionnaire among 195 adolescent girls with the age ranging between 15 to 19 years in six secondary schools of Dar es Salaam region, Tanzania, in July 2008. The study intended to investigate contraception related knowledge, socio- cognitive, psychological and cultural perceptions that describe contraception among secondary school adolescent girls. Altogether, 15.5% of sampled students reported to be sexually active. The condom use rate was higher than other contraceptive methods. Among (22) those who used contraceptives, about 50% indicated that use of contraceptives in their recent sexual encounter was suggested by their partners. The majority (64.6%) of participants had moderate level of knowledge about contraception. Moreover, most of the study participants indicated to have largely received information about contraception through mass media (radio and television). Likewise, 74.8% of the study participants had positive attitude toward contraceptives. There was a relatively high rate of perceived friends and classmates normative support to contraception. Also, high proportion (74.1 %) of the study participants perceived that they would contracept regardless of the cost of contraceptives. With regard to socio-demographic characteristics, religiosity was significantly associated with contraceptive beliefs [F (1,187) = 4.239, P= <0.05]. Further more, intention to use contraceptives was significantly associated with behavioral contraceptive beliefs [F (1,177) = 10.587, P= <0.01], normative contraceptive beliefs [F (1,175) = 8.268, P= <0.01] and contraceptive control beliefs [F (1,175) = 4.361, P= <0.05]. Prevention of unintended pregnancy as well as STDs including HIV and AIDS infection in adolescents should be an urgent public health priority in countries with high prevalence of illegal abortion, teenage pregnancy, STDs including HIV and AIDS. The persuasive arguments through peers should be engaged to promote contraceptive beliefs and normative beliefs and contraceptive control beliefs.