2024/07/13 by Obi, Andrew Ifeanyichukwu, Ofili, Antionette Ngozi
#Contraceptive #Edo state #Nigeria #REPRODUCTIVE AND FAMILY HEALTH #Secondary School #Students #Use.
paper · doi:10.60787/tnhj.v18i1.357
Background: Appropriate and consistent contraceptive use has potential for preventing unwanted pregnancies, reducing abortion and spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents. This study assessed contraception use among secondary school students in Urban and Rural Communities in Edo State, Nigeria, to help raise awareness on need to curb rising incidence of teenage pregnancies and STIs among these vulnerable group. Methods: A comparative analytical cross sectional study was conducted involving secondary school students in Urban and Rural LGA of Edo State between January 2016 to April 2016, using interviewer administered pretested semi-structured questionnaires. Data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 statistical software, with level of statistical significance set at p<0.050 and 95% Confidence interval. Results: Although, 293(61%) and 212(53.4%) of students in urban and rural communities studied were sexually active (p=0.018); 191(39.7%) and 62(15.5%) of them used contraceptives (p˂0.001). Male condom 54(28.3%) and 53(85.5%) was the main form of contraceptive used in Urban and Rural LGA, patent medicine store 98(51.3%) and 46(74.2%) was their main source of commodity in both LGA respectively. Younger students in urban LGA had significantly higher sexual activity (p˂0.001) and contraceptive use (p˂ 0.001) compared to older students in rural community. Conclusion: Sexual activity was high compared to contraceptive use among secondary school students. Health education intervention can help encourage appropriate and consistent contraceptive use in extreme circumstances to help curb risks for teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortions and reduce the spread of STIs.