Contraceptive knowledge and practices among students in federal polytechnic Kaduna, Nigeria : an exploratory study

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) in 2011 reported a low rate of contraceptive use among Nigerian youths at 29%, despite reported high rates of sexual activity and increased awareness of the existence of contraceptive methods. This exposes the youths to the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections and the effects associated with unwanted pregnancy. From a social constructionist standpoint, I used a mixed method research design to explore contraceptive knowledge and practices among students (18 to 25 years of age) at the Federal Polytechnic Kaduna.I see students' attitudes towards contraception as being historically and culturally located and dependent on the prevailing cultural arrangement at that period. I thus distance myself from the position of the Health Belief Model (HBM) by recognising that individuals' attitudes towards contraception is not only informed by the perceived benefits of contraceptive use but also by certain external social factors which could serve as barriers to the individual's decision to use contraceptives. I collected data from 187 students out of a sample of 200 who had been systematically selected from the Departments of Mass Communication and Architecture at the polytechnic between August and September 2013. In addition, I conducted fifteen follow-up semi-structured interviews with students and three key informant interviews; two staff at the polytechnic clinic and one private pharmacist close to the polytechnic.Similar to other Nigerian studies among tertiary students, there is a relatively high level of sexual activity as well as high level awareness of contraceptive methods among students; however, they lack sufficient knowledge of how contraceptives function. Contraceptive use among sexually active students was also low either due to negative attitudes towards contraceptives resulting from inadequate or incomplete contraceptive information from friends or due to lack of easy access to contraceptive methods by students, partners' influence or influences from cultural, including religious, beliefs and practices, thereby making students vulnerable to the risk associated with unprotected sex. There is therefore the need for interventions by relevant stakeholders that will seek to provide adequate information to students and develop in them positive attitudes towards contraceptive use.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University