Nurses’ knowledge of and willingness to promote female condom use in Johannesburg Health District

Abstract

The female condom is the only current method for female partners to simultaneously prevent both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Studies of various contraceptive methods suggest that providers’ acceptance and endorsement may be a key factor in their clients’ uptake and continued use of a method. Our aim in this study was to assess the relationship between nurses’ knowledge of and their willingness to promote female condom use in 18 public healthcare facilities within the Johannesburg District. The mean score of correct answers of 398 nurses completing an anonymous, self-administered, six-item questionnaire was 4 out of a maximum of 6. Data analysis included the use of descriptive statistics and a chi-square test. It was found that 79% of participants were knowledgeable but only 59% were willing to promote female condom use. There was no association between knowledge of and willingness to promote female condom use. The following significant associations with knowledge and willingness to promote female condom use were found: family planning experience, being employed by a local government authority, working in a primary care clinic and having had informal training on female condom use. Informal training of nurses within the family planning unit in the clinics has the potential to improve nurses’ knowledge and willingness to promote female condom use. Significance: • This is the first study conducted in South Africa on the knowledge of and willingness of healthcare providers to promote female condom use. • An effective strategy is needed to motivate healthcare workers to promote female condom use with their patients. • Informal training of nurses within the family planning unit has the potential to improve nurses’ knowledge of and willingness to promote female condom use.

Nurses’ knowledge of and willingness to promote female condom use in selected primary healthcare clinics in the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa

“…The majority (95.7%) knew that female condoms prevent pregnancy and STIs. This nding corroborates previous reports, 15 although the gure is slightly higher (95.7% versus 88%). Sixty-three per cent of the participants knew that the female condom should not be used simultaneously with the male condom.…”

“…Sixty-three per cent of the participants knew that the female condom should not be used simultaneously with the male condom. This result is better than that of a previous study 15 among a similar population in Gauteng, South Africa, which showed that more than half of the participants answered the question incorrectly. Regarding whether the FC could be inserted up to eight hours before intercourse, 71.7% of the participants correctly answered this question.…”

“…Regarding whether the FC could be inserted up to eight hours before intercourse, 71.7% of the participants correctly answered this question. This is similar to the nding of Petkova et al, 15 who reported that 74% of the participants correctly responded to this question. Eighty-ve per cent of participants correctly answered that the female condom does not remove sexual arousal, which is also similar to Petkova et al, 15 who reported that 91.26% of respondents correctly answered this question.…”

“…This is similar to the nding of Petkova et al, 15 who reported that 74% of the participants correctly responded to this question. Eighty-ve per cent of participants correctly answered that the female condom does not remove sexual arousal, which is also similar to Petkova et al, 15 who reported that 91.26% of respondents correctly answered this question. Regarding the structure of the FC, the majority of the participants (87.7%) correctly answered this question, which is similar to 88% reported by Petkova et al 15 However, a signi cant difference exists between levels of knowledge in the various professional categories; enrolled nursing assistants and enrolled nurses had lower levels of knowledge than professional nurses.…”