Attitudes of Healthcare Providers Towards Providing Contraceptives for Unmarried Adolescents in Jos University Teaching Hospital Jos, North Central, Nigeria
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background:
Contraception among adolescents is a public health issue with deep roots in society, culture, and religion. High levels of premarital sexual activity without the use of contraceptives have been recorded among adolescents. Over 3 million unsafe abortions occur annually among adolescents. The successful provision and adoption of contraceptives among adolescents is a crucial approach to preventing increased unintended pregnancy and the complications related to it.
Objective:
To assess the attitude of healthcare providers towards providing contraceptives for unmarried adolescents in Jos University Teaching Hospital.
Methods:
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 371 healthcare providers in Jos University Teaching Hospital Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria, using a self-administered questionnaire.
Results:
The majority of the respondents (79%) had a positive attitude towards providing contraceptives for unmarried adolescents. More than half (52.4%) perceived the provision of contraceptives for unmarried adolescents as promoting sexual promiscuity. Close to half (45.8%), reported that unmarried adolescents should be asked to abstain from sex rather than providing them with contraceptives. There was a statistically significant relationship between the age, post-qualification years, and religion of the respondents (p=0.020, 0.036, and 0.033 respectively) when compared with attitudes towards the provision of contraceptives.
Conclusion:
Findings from this study showed an overall highly positive attitude by healthcare providers towards providing contraceptives for unmarried adolescents even though some expressed mixed feelings. A positive provider attitude towards providing contraception to unmarried adolescents is a very strong factor in offering contraception to them which will in turn prevent unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and their complications.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
Olofinbiyi R., Ojo E., Ogidan O., Ayodeji G., Johnson A. A Systematic Review on Adolescent Contraceptive Usage. African J Biomed Res. 2024;27(May):201–15.
WHO. The mental health of adolescents [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 Mar 7]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health
Ajah LO, Obi VO, Ozumba B, Umeora OUJ, Onwe OE, Ezeonu CT, et al. Attitude of Healthcare Providers to Adolescent Contraception in Abakaliki, South-East Nigeria. Int J Med Heal Dev. 2015;20(1):1–8.
Ahanonu E. Attitudes of Healthcare Providers towards Providing Contraceptives for Unmarried Adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria. J Fam Reprod Heal. 2014;8(1):33–40.
[Nigeria] FM of H. National HIV/AIDS and reproductive health survey. Abuja: Abuja; 2009.
Bankole A, Oye-Adeniran BA, Singh S, Adewolw IF, Wulf D, Sedgh G, et al. Unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in Nigeria: causes and consequences. New York: Guttmacher Institute; 2006.
(REACH). RA to CH, editor. Social dimensions of HIV and AIDS prevention: HIV AIDS related risks behaviors and testing and counseling in Nigeria. Ibadan: REACH; 1010.
Ayele B., Gebregzabher TG, Hailu TT, Assefa BA. Determinants of teenage pregnancy in Degua Tembien District, Tigray, and Northern Ethiopia: A community-based case-control study. PLoS One. 2018;13(7).
Ahmed S, Li Q, Liu L, Tsui A. Maternal deaths averted by contraceptive use: an analysis of 172 countries. Lancet. 2012;380(9837):111–25.
Alayande A, Mustapha DA, Nuhu IA, Umeh GC, Maji TJ. Trends in contraceptive use among female adolescents in Nigeria : Evidence from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Afr J Reprod Health. 2021;25(October):61–8.
Baldwin MK, Edelman AB. The effect of long-acting reversible contraception on rapid repeat pregnancy in adolescents: a review. J Adolesc Heal. 2013;52(4):S47-52.
Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development. 20th Anniv.
Alayande A, Bello-Garko B, Umeh G, Nuhu I. Access to contraceptives for adolescents in northern Nigeria – a cross-sectional study from three secondary health facilities in Kaduna metropolis, Kaduna. Gates Open Res. 2019;3:1476.
National Population Commision and ICF International, Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2023–24; Key Indicators Report. Rockville, Maryland, USA; 2024.
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.
Agampodi SB, Agampodi CT, Piyaseeli UK. Agampodi SB, Agampodi CT, Piyaseeli UKD. Adolescents' perception of reproductive health care services in Sri Lanka. BMC Heal Serv Res. 2008;8:98.
Ezenwaka U, Mbachu C, Ezumah N, Eze I, Agu C, Agu I, et al. Exploring factors constraining utilization of contraceptive services among adolescents in Southeast Nigeria : an application of the socio-ecological model. BMC Public Health. 2020;20:1–11.
Nalwadda G, Mirembe F, Tumwesigye, N M Byanmugisha J, Faxelid E. Constraints and prospects for contraceptive service provision to young people in Uganda: provider’s perspectives. BMC Heal Serv Res. 2011;11:220.
Wood K, Jewkes R. Blood blockages and scolding nurses: barriers to adolescent contraceptive use in South Africa. Reprod Heal Matters. 2006;14(27):109–18.
Charan J, Biswas T. How to calculate sample size for different study designs in medical research? Indian J Psychol Med. 2013;35(2):121–6.
Adekunle A., Arowojolu A., Adedimeji A., Roberts O. Adolescent contraception: a survey of attitudes and practices of health professionals toward adolescent contraception. Afr J Med Sci. 2000;29:247–52.
Tshitenge ST, Nlisi K, Setlhare V, Ogundipe R. Knowledge, attitudes and practice s healthcare providers regarding contraceptive use in adolescence in Mahalapye, Botswana Knowledge, attitudes and practice of healthcare providers regarding contraceptive use in adolescence in Mahalapye, Botswana. South African Fam Pract [Internet]. 2018;60(6):181–6. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/20786190.2018.1501239
Agbede CO, Amodemaja OA, Akinoye JI, Mustapha M. Knowledge and Perception of Health Care Providers as Correlates to the Provision of Contraceptive Services to Adolescents in Abuja, Nigeria Knowledge and Perception of Health Care Providers as Correlates to the Provision of Contraceptive Services to Adol. Int J Public Health. 2020;1–10.