Attitudes of Healthcare Providers Towards Providing Contraceptives for Unmarried Adolescents in Jos University Teaching Hospital Jos, North Central, Nigeria

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.

Keywords:

Attitude, Healthcare Providers, Contraceptives, Unmarried, Adolescents, Nigeria

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