Abstract
Background
Family planning plays a vital role in improving reproductive health, empowering individuals, and promoting sustainable development, however, its usage among young people in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) remains an issue that needs urgent attention. This study aimed to assess barriers and facilitators to the uptake of contraceptives among young people in the Tamale Metropolis.
Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between February 2023 and March 2023. A sample size of 384 young people (15-24 years) was used, and a stratified sampling technique was employed in selecting the respondents for the study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 27. Inferential analyses were performed and results were considered statistically significant at P <0.05.
Results
Out of 384 young people, a majority (54.9%) were males and 39.3% had unprotected sex. All respondents have heard about family planning (FP), male condom was the most popular FP method (88.3%), and 48.9% strongly agreed that contraceptives reduce fear of unplanned pregnancy. Only 25.0% of respondents had used family planning services, and about 39.1% of the respondents see FP users as prostitutes. The odds of FP usage were higher among young people who were Christians (aOR, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.47-7.14; p=0.003), and those who had ever had sex (aOR, 5.93; 95% CI, 2.34-15.03; p<0.001) compared to their counterparts.
Conclusion
A significant proportion of them showed good knowledge of contraception, with male condoms being the most widely known method. On the other hand, it was found that the usage of contraceptives among young people was low. This finding underlines the need to improve access to family planning information and services by providing accurate, comprehensive information through healthcare providers, websites, hotlines, and educational materials.
Keywords:
contraceptive uptake, adolescents, young adults, family planning barriers, sexual health education, stigma and contraception, healthcare access, reproductive healthReferences
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Copyright (c) 2024 DR. Abdulai Abdul Malik , Osman Abu Iddrisu, Iddrisu Abdul Hakeem, Abdul-Khahar Osman, Saidatu Ayisha Abubakari, Mudasir Mohammed Ibrahim, Rhubamatu Iddrisu, Abass Yakubu, Mulika Fasasi
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