Gynecology & Obstetrics
Open Access

Abstract

Awareness, Utilization and Barriers to Family Planning Services among Female Students at Asella Preparatory School, Ethiopia

Solomon Tejineh, Demeke Assefa, Hailu Fekadu1 and Mesfin Tafa

Background: Currently contraceptive use is lower among young women in Ethiopia. According to EDHS2011 report out of sexually active 5% of all women age 15-19 and 7% of age 20-24 reported current use of any contraceptive method. As evidences showing that teen age girls who get pregnant are likely to drop out of school and if become teen age parents they likely to face social and economic problems.

Objective: To assess the level of awareness, attitude of contraceptives and utilization of family planning services among female youth students and barriers that hinders effective use of the services.

Method: Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted in Oromia regional state Arsi zone Assella town, Assella preparatory school. Systematic random sampling was used to select study subjects for survey while purposive sampling was used to select study subjects for in depth interview. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data and interviewer topic guide was used for qualitative.

Result: Majority (97.3%) of the respondents have heard about family planning methods. The first common source of information for family planning was mass-media (62.5%) and the least source of information (8.3%) was internet. Out of sexually active respondents, (61%) of them currently using contraceptive methods. Females from urban (AOR=4.60, 95%CI =1.06-19.96) and those who satisfied with family planning service (AOR=9.75, 95%CI=1.62- 58.71) were utilized family planning than their counter parts.

Conclusion: The level of awareness about family planning, source of information for services are encouraging. However, the role of family and school teachers as the source of information for the female youth seems to be low. This should be improved using integrated Reproductive Health services for female youth by participating families and school teachers who have a vital role to ensure adequate knowledge for utilization of Reproductive Health services.