1.1 Introduction
Contraceptives are drugs or device used to prevent a woman from being pregnant and also used to protect men and women from sexually transmitted diseases. How can this be driven home is truth to our adolescences, utilized to reduce our teaming population and to reduce the diseases that are sexually transmitted. Contraceptive is used as a form of emergency contraception (more commonly known as a morning after pill). Contraceptive is formulated to function in a manner similar to the female hormone progesterone, allowing for prevention of pregnancy if taken within a reasonable period of time. Generally, it is recommended that contraceptive be taken no later than three days after having unprotected sex. However, it has proven to be more effective in cases where the treatment was started closer to the time of the sexual encounter.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Over the years, especially in Africa, the need for contraception and control of population using female methods of the pill, injectables etc have been adapted. Before now only the condom and withdrawal method has been used by men. The use of contraceptives by both males and females has been accepted and widely practiced in the developed world. This has not been the case in the developing world where the male chauvinistic cultural belief that women should protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies; instead of the men also making it possible to use contraceptives. The act of child bearing is the combined effort of both males and females, but in the developing world; it is seen as a primary function of the female gender. This is the reason why the usage of contraceptives among men in these areas has not been encouraged as the female contraceptives. The patriarchal nature of the African society does not seem to help or encourage male contraception rather it makes men to believe that they do not have any role to play in reproductive health.
Emergency contraception (EC) can significantly reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions especially in Nigeria. Despite the increasing awareness of EC among educated young women in Nigeria, the rate of utilization remains low. This study therefore explores the health implication of contraceptive among female secondary school. The use of EC to analyze their knowledge of emergency contraception, methods ever used, perceived efficacy, and its acceptability.
Participants considered the use of condom and abstinence as the most effective methods of preventing unplanned pregnancy.
Emergency contraception is the use of a drug or device to prevent pregnancy. It could be used after an unprotected sexual intercourse, contraceptive failure, and coerced unprotected sex or in cases of sexual assault. Studies have shown that the rate of unplanned pregnancy is very high worldwide and unwanted pregnancy is the main reason women seek abortion. Emergency contraception could be very crucial in preventing unplanned pregnancies in settings where abortion is illegal, however, following the evidence presented in the literature, emergency contraception has not been demonstrated to have a population level impact with regards to the reduction in the rate of unplanned pregnancies.
Globally, many unplanned pregnancies end up being aborted in safe and unsafe conditions. In Nigeria, over half of unplanned pregnancies are aborted in unsafe conditions leading to deaths and serious complications. Abortion-related mortality accounts for an estimated 8 % of global maternal deaths. Distressingly, half of the abortion-related mortality occurs among young women especially in secondary school in Nigeria. This clearly suggests that secondary school girls as a demographic segment have a special need for emergency contraception.
The health implication of contraceptive must be studied to know whether it have negative or positive effect among secondary school girls; when taken in the middle of the menstrual cycle, the preparation may inhibit ovulation. The pill can cause changes in the menstrual cycle in the lady. Your next period could start earlier or later than expected and flow can be lighter or heavier than normal. It can cause nauseating feeling which occurs in approximately 25% of users vomiting. It can also bring about bleeding disturbances in some cases, 2-3 days following tablet ingestion .Sometimes it can cause breast tenderness, headache, dizziness, fatigue.
In the majority of cases the next period starts as expected or somewhat earlier, if the period is more than 7 days late it is recommended to perform a pregnancy test. In case of prolonged or heavy bleeding, gynecological examinations are advised. If the user has a reported case of asthma, heart failure, hypertension, migraine, epilepsy, renal impairment, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, depression, and / or stroke, the preparation may be used exclusively in the above mentioned emergency cases. It is not appropriate for regular use. Contraceptive is actually a very harsh drugs on young girls, most of the secondary school girls may not follow the directives and it can cause damage to their health.
Therefore, in Oyo State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to assess the Knowledge and Attitude towards the Use of Contraceptive among Nursing Mothers in Egbeda Local Government Area, Oyo State.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that sexual education in most of our homes are poor, with the belief that being sexually educated will make the student to be promiscuous or to test what they have learnt. But we all know that our society have overgrown such belief, and they will always have coitus, whether they are educated or not. They will always be influenced by their peer groups and those who are not yet exposed will learn the act in a negative way. This being the case, the onus now rests on adults to educate the teenage or early adult group on what the reproductive organs stand for, the usage of contraceptives to reduce the incidence of unwanted pregnancies or even infections in the reproductive system.
The need for this study is to stimulate parents and school authorities to educate our younger generations to be well equipped with the knowledge of family planning. Failure of this taking place will lead to an increase in the number of unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and undue population rise in the society.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to assess the Knowledge and Attitude towards the Use of Contraceptive among Nursing Mothers in Egbeda Local Government Area, Oyo State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To determine the practice of contraception among Nursing Mothers in the area under study.
- To assess the factors that influences the utilization of contraceptives among Nursing Mothers.
- To assess the knowledge and attitude of Nursing Mothers in Egbeda Local Government Area towards contraception utilization.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Are there factors that influence the utilization of contraceptives among Nursing Mothers?
- What is the practice of contraception among Nursing Mothers in the area under study?
- What is the knowledge and attitude of Nursing Mothers in Egbeda Local Government Area towards contraception utilization?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There are no significant factors that influences the utilization of contraceptives among Nursing Mothers
- H1: There are significant factors that influences the utilization of contraceptives among Nursing Mothers
1.7 Significance of Study
It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of benefit to the federal ministry of education, ministry of health, secondary schools, teachers, female secondary school student and all Nigerians. The study will also be of great benefit to the researchers who intends to embark on research on similar topics as it will serve as a guide.
This study will give us an overview of the perception or knowledge, the usage or practice of contraception among Nursing Mothers which will again enable us to educate them on what good practice of family or reproductive health should be. This will translate into a better moral upbringing of the society around us.
This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Knowledge and Attitude towards the Use of Contraceptive among Nursing Mothers in Egbeda Local Government Area, Oyo State.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Contraceptive: Hormonal and Barrier Contraception. There are about 15 different types of contraceptives which allow you to enjoy sex without the risk of getting pregnant. These birth control methods include: condoms, the diaphragm, the contraceptive pill, implants, IUDs (intrauterine devices), sterilization and the morning after pill.
Implication: The conclusion that can be drawn from something although it is not explicitly stated.
