Sexual and reproductive health communication and awareness of contraceptive methods among secondary school female students, northern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundAdolescent girls continue to fall victim to unintended pregnancy and its consequences, with particular problems arising in low income countries. Awareness about methods of contraception is an important step towards gaining access and using suitable contraceptive methods. However, studies assessing the relationship between sexual and reproductive health communication and awareness of contraceptive methods among secondary school female students are lacking.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted among 807 female students in six secondary schools in Mekelle town, Ethiopia. Study participants were selected with a stratified cluster sampling technique. Data collection was carried out using a structured, self-administered questionnaire, and data entry was done using EPI Info Version 3.3.2 software. The data were then cleaned and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine factors associated with awareness of female students on methods of contraception.ResultOf all the students, 127(15.8%) reported ever having had sex, of whom 109(85.8%) had ever used contraceptives. Twenty (16%) of the sexually active students reported having been pregnant, of whom 18(90%) terminated their pregnancies with induced abortion. Discussion on sexual and reproductive health matters with their parent/s and peer/s in the six months prior to the study was reported by 351(43.5%) and 493(61.1%) of the students respectively. 716(88%) students were aware of different methods of contraception. Discussing sexual and reproductive health issues with parents (AOR =2.56(95% CI: 1.45, 4.50)) and peers (AOR = 2.46(95% CI: 1.50, 4.03)) were found to be independent predictors for contraceptive awareness among students.ConclusionsDiscussion on sexual and reproductive health issues with family and peers has a positive effect on contraceptive awareness of students. Therefore, strategies to improve open parent–child communication, and appropriate peer-to-peer communication in schools on sexual and reproductive health should be established and strengthened.

Young Females Perception of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services and Factor Affecting Utilization of Services in High Schools of Ambo town Oromia Region, Ethiopia

“…This could be due to open talk with their parents, they would have a good understanding and knowledge about SRH services and this can encourage them to use the service. This finding was agreed with other studies done in Mekele town which brought a positive finding sexual and reproductive health communication as a means of contraceptive awareness [20].…”

“…This could be in fact because of the fear of unwanted pregnancy females need to use at least contraceptive. This judgment was supported by a study conducted in Awabe district, were those respondents who ever had sexual intercourse 1.88 times more likely to utilize the service than those who were not sexually active [20].…”

Assessment of Communication on Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues among Mizan Secondary and Preparatory School Students with Parents, Mizan Town, Ethiopia, 2016

“…Sexual and reproductive health issues = in this study includes STI/HIV/AIDS, Contraceptive, Menstruation, unwanted pregnancy, premarital sex, Sexual intercourse, physical and psychological changes during puberty [38].…”

Opinions of Health Professionals on Tailoring Reproductive Health Services to the Needs of Adolescents

“…There is however no scientific evidence to back this claim. Studies have rather shown that adolescents are better able to make informed decisions about their reproductive health [11] and have better reproductive health outcomes when provided with the necessary education, information, and services [9, 12]. …”