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

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.