Determinants of Contraceptive Behaviours of Female Students in South-South, Nigerian Universities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14738/assrj.210.1345Abstract
The study is aimed to find out the determinants of contraceptive behaviours of female undergraduate students in South-South, Nigerian Universities using demographic variables of age, place of residence, year of study in the university and pattern of drug use. Four research questions and four hypotheses were raised to guide the study. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. The population for the study comprised 40,800 female undergraduate student studying in the ten government owned universities. A simple random sampling technique was used to draw 2,040 female students from the six universities. A questionnaire tagged “Determinants of Contraceptive Behaviours of Female Student Questionnaire” (DCBFSQ) was used for the collection of data. The reliability coefficient index of the instrument was 0.72. Frequencies, ANOVA, t-test and Multiple Regressions were used to analyse data obtained. Decisions were taken at a 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that the contraceptive behaviours of female students in the South-South Nigerian universities were significantly determined by age, place of residence, year of study in the university and pattern of drug use. Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made: reproductive health education should be made part of general course study for all years I and II students in Nigeria universities. This would help provide contraceptive knowledge that would help influence positive contraceptive behaviours. Counseling units should be established in the Student Affairs Department of all universities to offer counseling services on women reproductive health with emphasis on contraception. Health centres in the universities should provide family planning services to female students.
References
Arowojolu, C. and Adekunle, H. I. (2004). Reconciliation of Reproductive and Productive Roles of Women. Paper Presented at a Seminar on Nigeria Women and Nation Development, Institute of African Studies: University of Ibadan.
Briggs, L. A. and PeterIKuo, O. B. (2011). Characteristics of New Acceptors of Modern Family Planning in Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria, Rivers State. Nigerian Journal of Health Education, 15(1): 223I 232.
Curtis, S. L. and Neitzel, K. (2006). Contraceptive Knowledge, Use, and Sources. Calverton, Maryland, Macro International. Demographic and Health Surveys Comparative Studies. 92.
Falola, F. (2005, May 2) Baby Abandoned in Female Hostel. The Punch, p. 14.
Fryar, C. D., Hirsch, R., Porter, K. S., Kottiri, B., Brody, D. J. and Louis, T. (2010). Drug Use and Sexual Behaviours Reported by Adolescent: United States, 1999 – 2009. Advance Data from Vital and Health Statistics; No. 384. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.
Gupta, N. and Mahy, M. (2011). Adolescent Childbearing in SubISaharan Africa: Can increased Schooling Alone Raise Ages at First Birth. Demographic Research, 8(4): 93 – 106.
Islam, M. M. and Mahmud, M. (1995). Contraception Among Adolescents in Bangladesh. Asia – Pacific Population Journal. 10(1): 21 – 38.
Kaye, K., Suellentron, K. and Sloup, C. (2011). Relationships and Contraceptive Use Among Community College Students. The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, Washington, D. C.: Bedsider.
Magadi, M. A. and Curtis, S. L. (2003). Trends and Determinants of Contraceptive Method Choice in Kenya. Studies in Family Planning, 34(3): 149 – 159.
National University Commission (2007). NUC Annual Report Bulletin.
Odebode, N. (2004, May 4) “Nigeria Records 610,000 Abortions Yearly”, The Punch, 10.
Okonofua, F. E. (2010). Abortion. In Okonofua, F. E. and Odunsi, O. A., Contemporary Obstetrics and Gynecology in Developing Countries. Benin City: Women’s Health and Action Research Centre.
Okpani, J. and Okpani, E. (2002). Strategies of Contraceptive Use During Fertility Transitions. Proceedings of the International Population Conference, International Union for the Scientific Study of Population.
Resmick, T. (2010). Sexual Risk Behaviour Among Youths. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, 39(3): 237 –253.
Schneider, M. (2011). Introduction to Public Health; 3rd ed., Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Skolnik, R. (2012). Global health. New York: Jones and Bartlett learning.
Uba, Z., Nwosu, P. and Tahir, T. (2003). The Health Consequences of Adolescent Sexual and Fertility Behaviour in SubISaharan Africa. Studies in Family Planning, 29(2): 210I232.
World Health Organization (2012). Sex and Youth – Misperceptions and Risks. Progress in Reproductive Health Research. 53(1). Available at http://www.who.int/reproductiveIhealth/hrp/progress /53news/53/1.en.html. Retrieved 3rd Feb. 2013.
World Health Organization (WHO) (2004). Unsafe Abortion – Global and Regional Estimates of the Incidence of Unsafe Abortion and Associated Mortality in 2004, 4th ed., Geneva: WHO.
