Determinants of Modern Contraceptive Use among Female Adolescents in Senior High Schools in Ellembelle District of Western Region, Ghana

Abstract

Introduction: The low contraceptive uptake and high unmet need for contraception remain a public health concern in Ghana. Adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 years have been identified to have low usage of modern contraceptives even though they are identified to have unprotected sex. Objective: The main objective of the study was to examine the determinants of modern contraceptives use among female adolescent between the ages 15 to 19 years in senior high school in Ellembelle district of the Western Region of Ghana. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study involving a multistage sampling technique was used to select 360 female adolescent between the ages 15 to 19 years in five senior high schools in Ellembelle district of the Western Region of Ghana. The data was collected using questionnaires and were analysed using statistical tests such as chi-square test and multiple logistic regressions. Results: The total number of female adolescents who have had sex before was 59.4% with 2 in 5 not using modern contraceptive. Factors identified to influence modern contraceptive use were female adolescents and mothers belonging to the age group 18-19 years and 41-50 years respectively, fathers’ belonging to the age group 51-60 years, female adolescents living with a single parent, fathers who had attained tertiary education, and friends of female adolescents who had mobile phones. Conclusion and Recommendation: The study concludes that modern contraceptives are not utilized among younger female adolescents. The study, therefore, recommends that Ellembelle District Education Service and Ellembelle District Health Directorate should jointly design adolescent reproductive health programmes to encourage contraceptive use among female adolescents in the district in order to reduce teenage pregnancy and child birth at younger ages.