Knowledge, attitude, and practices of high school learners contraceptive use in Makhado Municipality, Limpopo Province

Abstract

Background: Contraception is a critical preventive proportion of unintended pregnancies and sexual transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, among young people. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of high school learners towards contraceptive use in Makhado Municipality, Limpopo Province. Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive research design was adopted. Slovin’s formula was used to calculate sample size. A sample size of 359, high school learners were selected to be part of the study from the target population. Probability-stratified random sampling method was adopted to select respondents aged 13 to 21 years, from schools that were selected to be part of the study. Only learners in grades 10 to 12 were selected to be part of the study. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire with open and close ended questions. Thereafter data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 27.0. To analyse the data, descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were used. Chi-square test was used to establish the association between demographic information of respondents and contraceptive use. Statistical level of significance was set at 5% (p<0.05). The analysed data was presented in frequency tables, graphs and bar charts. Results: Findings showed that most learners were knowledgeable about contraceptive methods and were aware of different contraceptive methods, however, condoms were widely known by more than half 206 (57.4%) respondents. The most common source of information about contraceptives was social media with 98 (27.3%). Almost every learner, 339 (94%) knew that contraceptives can be accessed from hospital/ clinic. Furthermore, the study also revealed that 254 (70.7%) of learners have a positive attitude regarding contraceptives as they preferred to use contraceptives than to fall pregnant. Majority of the learners were sexually active, 284 (79.1%) and learners started sexual intercourse at an early age of 13 (4.6%) age of 12 or younger, with the majority having started at the age of 15 years and above. One hundred and seventy-seven (62.0%) of learners stated that they use contraception when engaging in sexual intercourse. However, there were few learners 45 (16.0%) who were not using any contraception. Pressure from partners 18 (40%) and fear of side effects 15 (33.3%) were seen as the main causes of ineffective contraceptive use and non-utilisation. There was a significant association between age, gender, grade, religion, educational level of parents and the frequency of contraceptive use. Conclusion: Knowledge and awareness of contraception is crucial in encouraging contraceptive uptake amongst adolescents. Even though some learners stated that they had heard about other contraceptive methods, particularly oral pills, injectable and withdrawal, they did not have sufficient knowledge on how they work. Most learners had a favourable attitude about contraception. The study also concluded that amongst those learners that are expected to be using contraception, the majority were using it. However, some learners are not practicing contraception due to many factors such as pressure from boy/ girlfriend, fear of side effects and religious beliefs. A high level of sexual activity, early sexual initiation and place these adolescents at risk of pregnancy and STIs, including HIV/AIDS. The results indicated a need for more intense education on contraception, this lies firmly in the hands of parents, teachers, social workers and health workers. Given that learners were more knowledgeable about contraception use but did not have sufficient knowledge on how they work and some were not practicing contraception, it would be prudent for the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Health, and Social Development to collaborate to organize awareness campaigns in high schools to educate learners about how contraception works and to promote safe sexual practices, including effective contraception use, among this age group.