Unmarried female adolescents' knowledge and attitudes towards the use of contraceptive services in the Maseru Health Service Area

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Date
2003-06
Authors
Moletsane, Matšepo Lydia
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: Adolescent reproductive health has become a major concern on the international agenda. Understanding adolescents' views about the use of contraceptives and contraceptive services is critical in developing effective strategies to prevent unwanted adolescent pregnanciesand abortions that are on the increase in Lesotho. The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the knowledge and attitudes of unmarried female adolescents towards the use of contraceptive services. A non-experimental exploratory and descriptive design was used. A survey method was used to gather data. The relevant literature and focus group interviews were used to compile a questionnaire, which was the primary research technique. Probability sampling with a proportional representation was used to select a sample of 969 respondents between 13 and 21 years from 29 high schools in the rural and urban areas of the Maseru Health Service Area. All the data collected were analysed on a nominal descriptive level. The findings of the study and the conclusions reached showed that there is inadequate knowledge of reproductive health and contraceptives; misconceptions; lack of knowledge regarding contraceptive services; contradicting attitudes towards the use of contraceptives; lack of adolescentfriendly services; a discrepancy between sexual activity and the use of contraceptives; and under-utilization of contraceptives and contraceptive services. Based on the above, recommendations were made that adolescents should be empowered with knowledge regarding contraceptives and reproductive health; misconceptions should be corrected; contraceptive services should be advertised; and adolescent-friendly services created, thereby improving the utilization of contraceptives and contraceptive services. In the last place the need for further research was emphasized.
Afrikaans: Die reproduktiewe gesondheid van adolessente het 'n belangrike bron van kommer op die internasionale agenda geword. Die vermoë om adolessente se menings rakende die gebruik van voorbehoedmiddels en dienste in dié verband te verstaan, is van die uiterste belang om effektiewe strategieë te ontwikkel om ongewenste adolessente swangerskappe en aborsies - wat aan die toeneem in Lesotho is - te verstaan. Die doel van die studie was om die kennis en gesindheid van ongetroude vroulike adolessente teenoor die gebruik van voorbehoeddienste te ondersoek en te beskryf. 'n Nie-eksperimenteleondersoekende en beskrywende metode is gebruik. 'n Opname metode waarvolgens data of gegewens ingewin is, is gebruik. Die relevante literatuur en fokusgroeponderhoude is gebruik om 'n vraelys saam .te stel, wat die primêre navorsingstegniek was. Waarskynlikheidstoetsing met 'n proporsionele verteenwoordiging is gebruik om 'n steekproef van 969 respondente tussen 13 en 21 jaar uit 29 hoërskole in die stedelike en landelike gebiede van die Maseru Gesondheidsdiensareate selekteer. AI die data wat versamel is, is op 'n nominale beskrywende vlak ontleed. Die bevindinge van die studie en die gevolgtrekkings waartoe gekom is, het daarop gedui dat daar, onvoldoende kennis van reproduktiewe gesondheid en kontraseptiewe metodes is; wanopvattinge; 'n gebrek aan kennis rakende kontraseptiewe dienste; teenstrydige opvattinge en houdings teenoor die gebruik van kontraseptiewe middels; 'n gebrek aan adolessent-vriendelike dienste; 'n teenstrydigheid tussen seksuele aktiwiteite en die gebruik van kontraseptiewe middels; en ondergebruik van kontraseptiewe middels en kontraseptiewe dienste. Gebaseerop bogenoemde, is aanbevelinge gemaak dat adolessente bemagtig behoort te word met kennis rakende kontraseptiewe middels en reproduktiewe gesondheid; wanopvattinge behoort reggestel te word; kontraseptiewe dienste moet geadverteer word; en adolessent-vriendelike dienste moet geskep word om sodoende die gebruik van kontraseptiewe middels en kontraseptiewe dienste te verbeter. In die laaste plek is dit beklemtoon dat verdere navorsing noodsaaklik is.
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Sex instruction for teenagers -- Lesotho -- Maseru, Teenagers -- Lesotho -- Maseru, Contraceptives, Teenagers -- Services for, Dissertation (M.Soc.Sc. (Nursing))--University of the Free State. 2003
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