Attitudes of Healthcare Providers towards Providing Contraceptives for Unmarried Adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria
Abstract
Objective: This study sought to assess the attitude of Healthcare Providers towards providing contraceptives for unmarried adolescents in four Local Government Areas in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Materials and methods:A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 490 Healthcare Providers in 24 randomly selected healthcare facilities using self-administered, pre-tested questionnaires.
Results: More than half (57.5%) of the respondents perceived the provision of contraceptives for unmarried adolescents as promoting sexual promiscuity. The attitude of 42.7% of them was informed by the Nigerian culture which does not support premarital sex. About half (51.7%), reported that unmarried adolescents should be asked to abstain from sex rather than providing them with contraceptives. Over a third (44.2%) reported that providers should not provide services for both married and unmarried adolescents
Conclusion:Many healthcare providers have unfavourable attitudes towards the provision of contraceptives for unmarried adolescents. There is a need for further training of Healthcare Providers to address this situation.
National Population Commission (NPC) and ORC Macro. Nigeria demographic and health survey 2003. NPC and ORC Macro, Calverton, Maryland, 2004.
Fatusi AO, Blum RW. Predictors of early sexual initiation among a nationally representative sample of Nigerian adolescents. BMC Public Health 2008; 8: 136.
National Population Commission (NPC) and ICF Macro. Nigeria demographic and health survey 2008. Abuja: NPC and ICF Macro, 2009.
Ikeme ACC, Ezegwui HU, Uzodinma, AC. Knowledge, attitude and use of emergency contraception among female undergraduates in eastern Nigeria. J Obstet Gynaecol 2005; 25: 491-3.
Orji EO, Esimai OA. Sexual behaviour and contraceptive use among secondary school students in Ilesha southwest, Nigeria. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2005; 25: 269–72.
Ozumba BC, Obi SN, Ijioma NN. Knowledge, attitude and practice of modern contraception among single women in a rural and urban community in southeast Nigeria. J Obstet Gynaecol 2005; 25: 292-5.
Biddlecom AE, Munthali A, Singh S, Woog V. Adolescents’ views of and preferences for sexual and reproductive health services in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi and Uganda. Afr J Reprod Health 2007; 11: 99-110.
Onwurah-Chimah UC. Sexual risk behaviour and contraceptive use among secondary school students in Ojo military barracks, Lagos. Dissertation. University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria 2006.
UNFPA. State of the Nigerian population. Abuja: UNFPA, 2005.
Federal Ministry of Health [Nigeria]. National HIV/AIDS and reproductive health survey. Abuja: Federal Ministry of Health, 2006.
Federal Ministry of Health [Nigeria]. National HIV/AIDS and reproductive health survey. Abuja: Federal Ministry of Health, 2009.
Bankole A, Oye-Adeniran BA, Singh S, Adewole IF, Wulf D, Sedgh G. et al. Unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in Nigeria: causes and consequences. New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2006.
Research Alliance to Combat HIV/AIDS (REACH). Social dimensions of HIV and AIDS prevention: HIV/AIDS related risks behaviours and testing and counselling in Nigeria. Ibadan: REACH, 2010.
Lindberg C, Lewis-Spruill C, Crownover R. Barriers to sexual and reproductive health care: urban male adolescents speak out. Issues Compr Pediatr Nurs 2006; 29: 73-88.
Mmari KN, Magnani RJ. Does making clinic-based reproductive health services more youth-friendly increase service use by adolescents? Evidence from Lusaka, Zambia. J Adolesc Health 2003; 33: 259-70.
Agampodi SB, Agampodi CT, Piyaseeli UKD. Adolescents perception of reproductive health care services in Sri Lanka. BMC Health Serv Res 2008; 8: 98.
Nalwadda G, Mirembe F, Tumwesigye NM, Byamugisha J, Faxelid E. Constraints and prospects for contraceptive service provision to young people in Uganda: providers’ perspectives. BMC Health Serv Res 2011; 11: 220.
Wood K, Jewkes, R. Blood blockages and scolding nurses: barriers to adolescent contraceptive use in South Africa. Reprod Health Matters 2006; 14:109-18.
Warenius LU, Faxelid EA, Chishimba PN, Musandu JO, Ong’any AA, Nissen. Nurse-midwives' attitudes towards adolescent sexual and reproductive health needs in Kenya and Zambia. Reprod Health Matters 2006; 14:119-28.
Stanback J and Twum-Baah KA. Why do family planning providers restrict access to services? An examination in Ghana. Int Fam Plan Perspect 2001; 27: 37-41.
Adekunle AO, Arowojolu AO, Adedimeji, AA, Roberts OA. Adolescent contraception: a survey of attitudes and practices of health professionals toward adolescent contraception. Afr J Med Med Sci 2000; 29: 247-52.
Mngadi PT, Faxelid E, Zwane IT, Höjer B, Ransjo- Arvidson AB. Health providers’ perceptions of adolescent sexual and reproductive health care in Swaziland. Int Nurs Rev 2008; 55: 148–55.
Matatu S, Njau W, Yumkella F. To reach the youth: creating adolescent-friendly reproductive health services in Uganda. PRIME II Dispatch 2001; 1: 1-11.
Federal Ministry of Health [Nigeria]. National policy on the health and development of adolescents
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 8, No 1 (March 2014) | |
| Section | Original Articles | |
| Keywords | ||
| Adolescents Attitudes Contraceptives Healthcare Provider | ||
| Rights and permissions | |
|
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
