Awareness and use of and barriers to family planning services among female university students in Lesotho
SOURCE: South African Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2011
TITLE AUTHOR(S): O.L.Akintade, S.Pengpid, K.Peltzer
KEYWORDS: CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES, FAMILY PLANNING, LESOTHO, PREGNANCY, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES, STUDENTS (COLLEGE), WOMEN
DEPARTMENT: Public Health, Societies and Belonging (HSC)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 6947
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/3672
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/3672
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2011
TITLE AUTHOR(S): O.L.Akintade, S.Pengpid, K.Peltzer
KEYWORDS: CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES, FAMILY PLANNING, LESOTHO, PREGNANCY, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES, STUDENTS (COLLEGE), WOMEN
DEPARTMENT: Public Health, Societies and Belonging (HSC)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 6947
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/3672
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/3672
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
Unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young women can be prevented through dual protection (i.e. condom use plus another method). Unmet needs for contraception and rates of unintended pregnancy among young women are high in the developing world. The aim was to assess the level of awareness of contraceptives and utilisation of family planning services among young women, and barriers that hinder effective use of such services. In a quantitative descriptive survey, 360 female undergraduate students at the National University of Lesotho responded to a hand-delivered self-administered questionnaire. Results. Awareness of family planning was high (97.5%). The condom was the most commonly known and used family planning method. The level of sexual experience and the prevalence of contraceptive use were high. Access to services was good. There were some misconceptions, e.g. that contraceptives other than the condom, such as natural family planning (4.7%), the vaginal ring (3.3%) and male or female sterilisation (2.8%), can prevent STIs. Married status was associated with current use of contraceptives, and having been formally taught about family planning was associated with the belief that it causes cancer. The unmet contraceptive need in the sample was 24.9%. Levels of awareness and utilisation of family planning services are high among female students at the University of Lesotho. There is a need to introduce family planning teaching based on accurate facts into the school curriculum.-
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