Anochie I, Ikpeme E
Department of Paediatrics, University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State.
Niger J Med. 2003 Oct-Dec;12(4):217-20.
Sexual activity is on the increase among teenagers worldwide, with a trend towards early onset. These activities are often unplanned and may lead to unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS. Teenagers in developing countries exhibit little knowledge, and exposure to contraceptives. This study was undertaken to describe the knowledge, attitude and use of contraception among female students in Port Harcourt.
A self-administered questionnaire was used for the study. Five hundred and thirty four students selected from a female only secondary school in Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State were studied.
The students were aged 8-23 years (mean 15.6 years). Two hundred and sixty four (49.4%) were in junior classes (JSS1-3) and 270 (50.6%) in senior classes (SS1-SS3). Two hundred ninety five (55.2%) of the respondents had heard of at least one contraceptive method. Age and not the academic level significantly influenced the knowledge (p < 0.05). Condom was the commonest method known by the students. Few students (< 10%) had knowledge of the modern contraceptive methods. One hundred and thirty five (25.3%) students believed that contraceptives could be harmful. Among the sexually active girls, only 45.3% had ever used any method of contraception. The use of contraception was more among junior students than senior students (64.5% vs 35.5%) (p < 0.05).
We therefore recommend formal sex education in secondary schools in Port Harcourt, in order to improve the reproductive health knowledge and contraceptive use of sexually active girls. The education program must address students' misconceptions about effective methods of contraception targeting the senior students specifically.
全球青少年的性活动呈上升趋势，且有早发的倾向。这些活动往往是无计划的，可能导致意外怀孕和包括艾滋病在内的性传播疾病。发展中国家的青少年对避孕知识了解甚少，且接触避孕药具的机会也很少。本研究旨在描述哈科特港女学生对避孕的知识、态度和使用情况。
本研究使用了一份自填式问卷。对从河流州哈科特港地方政府辖区一所女子中学挑选出的534名学生进行了研究。
学生年龄在8至23岁之间（平均15.6岁）。264名（49.4%）在初中班级（初一至初三），270名（50.6%）在高中班级（高一至高三）。295名（55.2%）受访者至少听说过一种避孕方法。年龄而非学业水平对知识有显著影响（p<0.05）。避孕套是学生们最熟知的方法。很少有学生（<10%）了解现代避孕方法。135名（25.3%）学生认为避孕药具可能有害。在有性行为的女孩中，只有45.3%曾使用过任何避孕方法。初中生中避孕方法的使用比高中生更多（64.5%对35.5%）（p<0.05）。
因此，我们建议在哈科特港的中学开展正规的性教育，以提高有性行为女孩的生殖健康知识和避孕方法的使用。教育项目必须解决学生对有效避孕方法的误解，尤其要针对高中生。
