Boakye Peter, Adaboh Evans, Lomotey Alberta Yemotsoo, Tetteh Jacob, Diji Abigail Kusi-Amponsah, Bam Victoria Bubunyo
School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2025 Aug 25;5(8):e0005039. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0005039. eCollection 2025.
Contraceptive use is essential for reducing unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among adolescents. Sexual activity during adolescence, particularly in developing countries, remains a major public health concern with significant implications for reproductive health. Adolescents aged 10-19 undergo significant hormonal changes that contribute to heightened sexual drive and an increased likelihood of early sexual activity. However, despite widespread knowledge of modern contraceptive methods, their actual use remains low. This study aims to assess sexual activity and contraceptive use among Senior High School (SHS) adolescents and to identify key predictors of contraceptive uptake. A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to September 2022 involved 330 adolescents selected through simple random sampling. Data were analyzed using frequencies, percentages, Pearson's chi-squared test, and binary logistic regression to examine associations between sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, class, ethnicity, religion, residential status), sexual activity characteristics (relationship status, multiple sexual partners), awareness of contraceptives, and contraceptive use. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval. Out of the total participants, 290 (87.9%) were within the age range of 15-19 years and the majority were females (n = 196, 59.4%). Approximately half (n = 166, 50.3%) were in an intimate relationship and 126 (38%) had engaged in sexual intercourse. Among sexually active adolescents, over half (n = 65, 51.6%) had their first sexual intercourse between the ages of 10-14 years and 100(79.4%) reported having ever used contraceptive, primarily condoms (n = 66, 66.0%), and pills (n = 43, 43.0%), with IUDs being the least common (n = 2, 2.0%). Sexually active adolescents who were aware of contraceptive (AOR = 6.686, 95%CI = 1.515 - 29.505, p = 0.012) had higher odds of contraceptive use. Early sexual initiation and contraceptive use are prevalent among adolescents. Comprehensive sex education and peer counseling on reproductive health are needed to address the consequences of early sexual activity without contraceptive use.
使用避孕措施对于减少青少年意外怀孕和性传播感染至关重要。青少年时期的性行为，尤其是在发展中国家，仍然是一个重大的公共卫生问题，对生殖健康有重大影响。10至19岁的青少年会经历显著的激素变化，这导致性欲增强和早期性行为的可能性增加。然而，尽管对现代避孕方法有广泛的了解，但其实际使用率仍然很低。本研究旨在评估高中生中的性行为和避孕措施使用情况，并确定避孕措施采用的关键预测因素。2022年8月至9月进行了一项横断面研究，通过简单随机抽样选取了330名青少年。使用频率、百分比、Pearson卡方检验和二元逻辑回归分析数据，以检验社会人口学特征（年龄、性别、班级、种族、宗教、居住状况）、性行为特征（恋爱状况、多个性伴侣）、避孕知识和避孕措施使用之间的关联。设定统计学显著性为p≤0.05，置信区间为95%。在所有参与者中，290人（87.9%）年龄在15至19岁之间，大多数为女性（n = 196，59.4%）。约一半（n = 166，50.3%）处于恋爱关系中，126人（38%）有过性行为。在有性行为的青少年中，超过一半（n = 65，51.6%）在10至14岁之间首次发生性行为，100人（79.4%）报告曾使用过避孕措施，主要是避孕套（n = 66，66.0%）和避孕药（n = 43，43.0%），宫内节育器最少见（n = 2，2.0%）。了解避孕知识的有性行为青少年使用避孕措施的几率更高（优势比= = 6.686，95%置信区间= = 1.515 - 29.505，p = = 0.012）。青少年中早期性行为和避孕措施使用很普遍。需要开展全面的性教育和关于生殖健康的同伴咨询，以应对未采取避孕措施的早期性行为带来的后果。
