Attitude of parents and adolescents towards contraceptive use by adolescents in alajo, ayawaso central submetro of accra

ABSTRACT 
Introduction Despite high knowledge about contraceptives among adolescents its use is low.  Parental attitude towards adolescent contraceptive can adversely affect contraceptive use by adolescents.
Objectives:
1. To describe the general knowledge of parents and adolescents on contraceptives 
2. To determine the proportion of parents and adolescents who are in favour of
contraceptive use among adolescents
3. To determine the proportion of parents and adolescents who discuss contraception
4. To describe how selected sociodemographic factors affect the attitude of parents
and adolescents towards contraceptive use among adolescents.
 
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was done employing both quantitative and qualitative methods. 
A face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire was conducted with a simple
randomly selected sample of adolescents and parents.  Focus group discussions were held
with some parents. The quantitative data was analysed using SPSS 16.0.  The qualitative
data was analysed in themes according to study objectives.
 
 
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Results Two hundred and seventy seven adolescents and 264 parents were interviewed. More
than 99% knew about modern contraceptives. Over 95% of them knew sexually
transmitted infections can be prevented by using condoms. About 60% approve of
contraceptive use by adolescents. However, only about 12 - 18% of parents who agreed
to adolescent contraceptive use will encourage this when faced with the reality. Less than
10% of the adolescents had on their own initiated a discussion that involved
contraception with their parents. About 30 – 40% of parents indicated that they have on
their own discussed contraception with adolescents but the qualitative study indicated
that such discussions were rare. Both parents and adolescents had misconceptions about
contraceptive use among adolescents.   For the  adolescents, being sexually active, and
for the parents, belief that contraceptive use has advantages for adolescent users and their
own prior contraceptive use were significantly associated with agreeing that sexually
active adolescents should use contraceptives.  
 
 Conclusion and recommendations  Both parents and adolescents have high knowledge about modern contraceptive use in preventing both sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. However, misconceptions and fear of side effects is preventing parents from discussing contraception with adolescents. Parents do not have the will to also encourage adolescents to use contraceptives.  There is the need to educate both parents and adolescents to dispel the misconceptions about contraceptives.  Contraceptive use among adults should be encouraged as adults on contraceptives are more likely to encourage adolescent contraceptive use.