Perception Of Undergraduate Students Towards The Use Of Contraceptives

Perception Of Undergraduate Students Towards The Use Of Contraceptives
Abstract
The study attempted to investigate the perception of undergraduate student towards the use of contraceptives at the University of Lagos. In this study, relevant and extensive literatures were reviewed under relevant sub-heading. A cross-sectional of five hundred (500) undergraduates aged 15-25 years was carried out using instruments like other-administered structured interview schedule, in-depth interviews and informal conversation to collect data. The analysis of the data showed majority of the undergraduates in Lagos State university are sexually experienced (58.2%) with most of the first sexual experiences occurring within the 15-19 years age group. There is a high level of knowledge (78.8%) of contraceptive methods available and where to get them but the level of contraceptive use is relatively lower (34.6%) even for the sexually active notwithstanding their level of education especially the students at higher institutions. This could be attributed to barriers to contraceptive use identified by them which includes embarrassment to buy, fear of side effect, disapproval by partner and lack of proper knowledge of contraceptive. Finally, it was concluded that there is a wide disparity between contraceptive knowledge and practice which need to be bridged. There is also need to review policies regarding reproductive health, sexuality and family life education among undergraduates in Nigeria.
Table of Contents
Chapter One:
Introduction
- 1.1 Background of the Study
- 1.2 Statement of the Problem
- 1.3 Research Questions
- 1.4 Objective of the Study
- 1.5 Research Hypothesis
- 1.6 Significance of the Study
- 1.7 Scope of the study
- 1.8 Operationalization of Concepts
Chapter Two:
Literature Review
- 2.1 Empirical Literature Review
- 2.1.1 Maternal Mortality in Developed and Developing Nations
- 2.1.2 Maternal Mortality Ratio in Nigeria
- 2.1.3 Adolescent Knowledge and use of Contraceptive
- 2.1.4 Trends in Unwanted Pregnancy
- 2.1.5 Contraception in Nigeria
- 2.1.6 Factors Affecting Contraception
- 2.2 Review of Relevant Theories
- 2.3 Theoretical Framework
Chapter Three:
Methodology
- 3.1 The Research Design
- 3.2 The area of the Study
- 3.3 The population of Study
- 3.4 Sample and Sampling Procedure
- 3.5 Instrument for Data Collection
- 3.6 Methods of Data Collection
- 3.7 Methods of Data Analysis
Chapter Four:
Data Presentation and Analysis
- 4.1 Personal Data of the Respondents
- 4.2 Knowledge of Contraception
- 4.3 Sexual History
- 4.4 Barrier to Contraceptive Use
- 4.5 Test of Hypotheses
Chapter Five:
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations
- 5.1 Summary of Findings
- 5.2 Knowledge and Use of Contraceptives
- 5.3 Sexual History
- 5.4 Contraceptive Use
- 5.5 Barriers to contraceptive Use
- 5.6 Conclusion
- 5.7 Recommendations
- REFERENCES
- APPENDICES
Chapter One
Introduction
1.0 Background to the Study
By the time young people reach fourteen or sixteen years of age, their biological development is established. Most puberty changes have occurred and most of their physical attributes are set (Cross 1992). Still, the teen years are considered by most authorities in development to be the most stressful. Personal appearance and social popularity grow to be overwhelming forces in teens’ daily life. According to Darroch and Singh (2000), teenagers naturally make sexual behaviour a part of attaining peer affirmation. A teen may be asked, dared or may even belittled into proving solidarity with the peer group by performing sexual acts (Lewis and Lewis, 2004). As Ounyea (1994) puts it, research studies have shown that teenagers consistently submit to sexual pressures even without any inducement from peers.
Hein (2001) observed that sexuality education for adolescents must present materials perceived as relevant to them, in a factual manner that avoids the appearance of preaching or admonishment. Adolescents of this level, possess a strong sense of autonomy. They easily detect in adult, especially their teachers, hidden strategies designed to alter their behaviour or thinking. Course material and exercises examining reproduction, contraception and communication are among the more meaningful at this stage, but prevention of sexual assault and information on sexual variables also generated interest among adolescent (Dryfold, 2003). At this stage, students requires contemporary information and the use of contraceptives.
The average student today in higher institutions especially at the University of Lagos, grew up in the pill era and simply assumes that highly effective methods of contraception are available. It is difficult sometimes to remember that this has been true only for about the last three decades and previously contraception was a hit-or-miss affair at best (Adekeye, 2000). According to him, contraception is less controversial than it once was (except for the issue of side effects).
Today, there are variety of reasons for an individual student at the higher institution to use contraceptives. Munoye (1998) states that many girls these days do not want to go into pregnancy and then abort their careers at school, this is why they prefer to take pills in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies or to get involved in premature marriages before completion of their education.
According to Anyanwu (2002) there are many methods of contraceptives in the society. These include the condom; the withdrawal method; the intrauterine contraceptives device, the diaphragm, the spermicides, the douching methods etc. Among all the methods of preventing unwanted pregnancies by the youths in schools, the condom and the pills are the most commonly needed or are used. Apart from its side effects, the variety of pills are used by women in many society today. This is because of its relative effectiveness. Also, the 90% of women, especially girls in various school at the tertiary level, use condoms as preventives methods in pregnancies. This is because, the condom is easy to use and has virtually no side effect after use. Therefore students both male and female prefer to use them, apart from deriving sexual pleasures they perceived prevention of pregnancy gives them assurance (Uzodike, 2003; Alani, 2002 and Adedoyin, 2004).
1.1 Statement of the Problem
The problem of unwanted pregnancy among adolescents or teenagers of school age, has been a daily concern to both parents and teachers, and even the youths themselves. This is because many youngsters, especially the female ones, have abruptly stopped schooling due to problem of unprotected sexual activities such as sex without condom and or without taking pills after sex. Findings shows that majority of our youth have even contracted the sexually transmitted diseases (STD), apart from the unwanted pregnancies, this has cut short the lives of most youths in terms of contacting the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and the HIV. While some others have ended their educational careers, through their premature pregnancies.
The above problems resulted in the investigation of the perception of undergraduates towards the use of contraceptives at the University of Lagos.
1.2 Purpose of the Study
The objectives of this study include
- To find out whether undergraduates students take contraceptives or not.
- To investigate whether there is relationship between the use of contraceptives and avoidance of pregnancy.
- To examine the pregnancy rate among undergraduate students of University of Lagos.
- To assess the level of awareness of contraceptives among female students at University of Lagos.
- To identify the different types of contraceptives available for students use.
- To find out whether there is gender differences in the use of contraceptives amongst students.
1.3 Research Questions
The following research questions:
- Do undergraduate students take contraceptives or not?
- Was there any relationship between the use of contraceptives and avoidance of pregnancies?
- To what extent can the pregnancy rate among undergraduate students of University of Lagos be examined?
- Was there high pregnancy rate among undergraduates of University of Lagos due to non-use of contraceptives?
- How can the different types of contraceptives be identified?
- Is there gender difference in the use of contraceptives among students at the University of Lagos?
1.4 Research Hypotheses
The following hypotheses were formulated and tested in this study:
- There will be no relationship between students perception and the use of contraceptives.
- There will be no significant relationship between students attitudes and their use of contraceptives.
- There will be no significant gender difference in the use of contraceptives among students.
1.5 Significance of the Study
The study will be beneficial to the following individuals:
- Students who are in the tertiary institutions, especially at the University of Lagos, would find this study very helpful because the findings and recommendations would be help them identify some of the important contraceptives that are available for use and their effectiveness in preventing pregnancy and contracting of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, syphilis etc. This study would enable students to know the most save and effective contraceptives to take in order to avoid after effects. This study will enable students to not only identify some available contraceptives, but know their strengths and weaknesses.
- Teachers would equally benefit from the recommendations and findings of this study because it will enable them to identify some contraceptives students use; their effectiveness or otherwise even their after effects to students health and vitality. Teachers (Lecturers) would find this study quite revealing as its finding would go a long way in helping the perception of their students towards the use of some contraceptives and their effects on them.
- Parent would find this study very useful as its findings and recommendations would help them to identify some important contraceptives needed by their children at school, especially the undergraduate students at the University of Lagos. This study will help parents know the most effective contraceptives and their usefulness or otherwise to their children at school. With the findings and recommendations of this study, parents would be able to identify some of the contraceptives that may be useful to them also, in their family planning.
- The Federal Ministry of Health will see this study as a great asset, as its findings and recommendations would enable the ministry to be abreast with the challenges facing those who use contraceptives that are not effective especially the fake ones and this knowledge will assist the ministry to tackle the problem of fake and adulterate drugs in Nigeria.
- The society will also benefit from this study because the content of this study will help people in the larger society to appreciate the roles contraceptives play in birth and population control. This study will be a reference point to both students, new researchers, old researchers and the general public.
1.6 Limitation of the Study
The study examines the perception of undergraduate students toward the use of contraceptives at the University of Lagos, Akoka in the Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State. In this study, finance, time, sourcing of materials and other logistics would be some constrain on the completion of this project work.
1.7 Delimitation of the Study
This study is set to examine the perception of the University of Lagos undergraduates’ perceptions towards the use of contraceptives. The study was carried out at the Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, Akoka, in Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State.
1.8 Definition of Terms
Operational terms were defined in this study in the following ways:
Contraception:
Birth control by prevention of conception or impregnation. This refers to the most common method of sterilization. The most effective temporary methods are nearly 99% effective if used consistently and correctly.
Consistency:
This is a term which refers to the continued rate or frequency things happen or take place. It means repeated occurrence of an event.
Reproduction:
This means the process by which organisms replicate themselves, assuring the continuation of their species. The two basic forms are asexual and sexual. Asexual reproduction (e.g. fission, spore formation regeneration and vegetative reproduction) produces an offspring generally identical to its single parent. Sexual reproduction produces a new individual through the union of special sex cells (gametes) usually from different parents.
Pregnancy:
This refers to the process of human gestation that takes place in the female’s body as a fetus to birth. It begins from when a male sperm contact with the female egg in the fallopian tube.
Perception:
This is the process of registering sensory stimuli as meaningful experience. The dividing line between sensation and perception has varied according to how the terms are defined.
Chapter Five
Summary, Conclusion and Recommendations
5.1 Summary of Findings
This study was conducted in Lagos State, among undergraduate between 15 – 25 years old. It covered undergraduate in higher institutions, Secondary schools, and others who are not in school like traders and artisans.
A total sample of five hundred (500) was chosen for this study. The questionnaires were other-administered and were duly completed. In-depth Interview (IDI) was also conducted to revalidate and complement the findings of the survey instruments.
5.1.1 Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Respondents
The respondents for the survey comprised, fifty three percent (53%) males and forty six percent (46%) females. The age range of most of the respondents clustered between 15-19 years. The current level of education of most of the respondents are higher institutions and secondary schools (40%) each respectively and (20%) of traders and artisans who are not privileged to be in school. However, majority of the respondents were Christians (47.4%) and Moslems (45.6%). This shows that populations of those who practices Christianity and Moslem are quite high in Lagos State.
5.2 Knowledge and Use of Contraceptives
Since knowledge is an important prerequisite in gaining access to contraceptives, it means that knowledge of contraceptives level could be promising for better future use.
With above 50% of total population of those who have knowledge of contraceptives from this study, it shows that knowledge of contraceptives among undergraduate in Lagos State is quite high. And with 78.8% of undergraduate who have heard about contraceptives, it shows that knowledge of contraceptives is also quite high in Lagos State. And with 62% means of those who lack knowledge of contraception, It shows that undergraduates have limited knowledge and access to contraceptive methods in Lagos State.
5.3 Sexual History
The study revealed that 58.2% of respondents were sexually active or have sexual partner. It shows that sexual activity is quite high among undergraduate in Lagos State. The mean age at the sexual debut was 0.83% for males and 0.88% for females. This indicates that females are at higher risk facing consequences of undergraduate sexuality than there male counterparts. Differences in engagements in sexual activity between male and female could be due to various societies in Nigeria’s norms that prohibits undergraduate’s involvements in sexual activity. (Whereby some society considers premarital sexual activity of male as normal but strictly disapprove female involvements in pre-marital sexual activities to avoid unwanted pregnancies). Engagements in sexual activity in this study are quite lower among undergraduate between the ages of 20 years and above.
5.4 Contraceptive Use
Majority of the respondents (55.4%) identified that they have not used any contraceptives during their last sexual exercise/intercourse. While the lowest proportion (34.2%) identified that they used contraceptive methods at their last sexual intercourse. Condoms were used by 26.6% of all the respondents at their last intercourse. Shops were identified as the sources of contraception for higher proportion of the respondents at 59.2% while Government Health Centres (42.8%) and private hospital/clinic (33.0%) were the second and third sources of contraceptives used by the respondents at their last sexual intercourse. I know where to get contraceptives, I can afford to buy and I approve use of contraceptives, where the major reasons to get contraceptives from the selected sources for high proportion of the respondents. The main purpose of using contraceptive by the respondents at their last sexual intercourse was to prevent unwanted pregnancy, followed by prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
However, for the fact that the rate of use of contraceptive by the respondents at their last sexual intercourse was to prevent unwanted pregnancy, followed by prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), it shows that undergraduate were more exposed to the risk of unprotected sex. This could also be an indication to give information about unprotected sex before they start to engage in sexual activity is lacking among them.
5.5 Barriers to Contraceptive Use
The study found that majority of the respondents who have ever used contraceptives and inconsistent users might reflect the presence of problems that undergraduate face when trying to use contraceptives. Considering the fact that (4.6%) of the female respondents have been pregnant and (4.8%) of male respondents have impregnated a girl, therefore the level of contraceptive use could be even lower and unsatisfactory. In this study most of the respondents identified, embarrassment to buy (60.57%), Religious opposition (59.45%) fear of side effect (63.55%), Afraid of being seen by parents (60.55%) and lack of knowledge (61.30%) means was commonly reported barriers by the respondents.
This is in agreement with qualitative finding that indicted that undergraduate face various barriers both at the level of accessing and using contraceptives considering the reasons for non use especially embarrassment to buy, lack of knowledge, fear of side effect and religious opposition could imply that even undergraduate who have the knowledge and want to use contraceptives, factors like fear of sharing sensitive personal matters and fear of facing side effect could also be a challenge to undergraduate decision to use contraceptives.
The study shows that undergraduate aged 14 – 19 years were less likely to use contraceptives than those aged 20 years and above. And again undergraduate who discuss contraceptives with their friends and those that approve use of contraceptives by undergraduate were more likely to use contraceptives without considering the barriers they may face. This explains why undergraduate at their early stages should need to provide information and guidance. It could also indicate the importance of teachers/parents in providing information about contraceptive use and clearing the negative rumors about
contraceptives.
5.6 Conclusion
Firstly, the level of knowledge of contraceptives methods was quite high among the undergraduate, but the majority of the respondents ever used any method was quite low. This implies that majority of sexually active undergraduate are highly exposed to consequences of unprotected sex and sexually transmitted diseases.
Secondly, the study found that majority of the undergraduate have who plans to use contraceptives in the future, choose to use modern methods mostly preferred condom and lesser proportion of the respondents identified pills and withdrawals, injectables as their preferred choice.
Thirdly, greater majority of the undergraduate had positive views towards contraceptives and were interested to know more about it especially before the age they are likely to start sexual activity. Some of them identified they were not properly thought and guided on how to lead their sexual life neither from their parents nor from their teachers.
Fourthly, the study found that sizeable proportion of undergraduate prefers to use chemists/pharmacy shops to avoid identifying them sexually active and to avoid embarrassment by health workers at government and private hospitals, who will request for registration before attention could be given to them.
Finally, the study found that undergraduate faced a wide range of barriers to the use of contraceptives both at accessing it and level of use.
5.7 Recommendations
Based on the findings, the following recommendations were proffered:
Programs promoting safe sexual behaviour should be encouraged among undergraduate and it should be integrated with other behavioural change intervention.
Provision of information about contraceptive should also include the possible sources of contraceptives, especially where it could be accessed without embarrassment by the providers.
Undergraduate should be provided with basic knowledge of sexuality and contraception before the age they are likely to engage in sexual activities and effective channels of communication should be used to inform and educate undergraduate using health professionals including, the author, trained teachers, and trained peer promoters and media.
Creating public awareness (especially on parents, teachers and service providers to create supportive environment to inform undergraduate abut sexuality, encourage abstinence and reduce barrier’s to use of contraceptive by sexually active undergraduate.
Since Lagos is a modern and developing world class city, undergraduate friendly centers should be encouraged through sensitization of the providers to enhance the function of undergraduate centre which should include recreational, education, income generating activities to reduce fear of undergraduate to utilize the centres.
Areas of Future Research
It will be interesting to conduct further research among undergraduate on the use of contraceptives in various rural communities in Lagos state to identify whether they are facing similar barriers to use contraceptives, parents and teachers on their knowledge about and attitude towards undergraduate contraceptive use and provides of different delivery points on their knowledge about and attitude towards undergraduate sexuality and contraceptive needs and how they feel about undergraduate contraceptive use.
Researchers should also be committed to using the findings of research to improve the reproductive health of the undergraduate by embarking in field works in order to find out those factors which affect undergraduate’s reproductive health; as undergraduate’s reproductive health matters a lot being one of the major contributors of death of undergraduate in their undergraduateful ages, (15-20 years ) through incessant abortions and HIV/AIDS infections.


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