KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS TOWARDS PREVENTION OF UNINTENDED PREGNANCY IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN UPPER GARDENERS VILLE, LIBERIA

ABSTRACT

preventing unintended pregnancy, 4 (40%) had high knowledgeof preventing unintended pregnancy.Theirattitudes were neither positive nor negative 6 (60%).The girls had positive perceptions towards preventing unintended pregnancy. According to the result, the girls said that injection is the most suitable method of prevention of unintended pregnancy.The results of the hypotheses showed that: There is a moderate negative and significant relationship between adolescent’ knowledge and perception towards prevention unintended pregnancy. (r = -060, p < .398) and there wasa weak positive and significant relationship between adolescent’ knowledge and   prevention of unintended pregnancy (r = .500p < .000). There wasa perfect negative and significantrelationship between adolescent’ perceptions and prevention towards unintended pregnancy(r = -138, p < .049).

The study concluded that Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions play a very important role in preventing unintended pregnancy. In the absence of adequate and factual knowledge, adolescents are bound to make unsound decisions that have a bearing on their lives. The perceptions of the girls will give you the clearer picture of how they will act or behave when it comes to prevention of pregnancy. The following recommendations were made: Ministry of education must include sex education as a course in the curriculum that will emphasize more on abstinence and must be thought from elementary, the ministry of health and social welfare should provide dedicated health care facilities with adolescent friendly services, Church heads must encourage Christian dating in any forum contain adolescent girls, ministry of Education must have an age restriction to classes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content                                                                                                  Page

Title Page                                                                                                                    i

Certification                                                                                                                ii

Dedication                                                                                                                  iii

Acknowledgements                                                                                                    iv

Abstract                                                                                                                      vi

Table of Contents                                                                                                       vii

List of Tables                                                                                                              x   

List of Figures                         xi                                             

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study                                                                               1

1.2       Statement of the Problem                                                              4

1.3       Objective of the Study                                                                                   5

1.4       Research Questions                                                                                         5

1.5.      Hypotheses                                                                                                     6

1.6       Scope of the Study                                                                                         6

1.7       Significance of the Study                                                                               6

1.8       Justification for the Study                                                                              7

1.9       Operational Definition of Terms                                                      7

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE

2.0       Introduction                                                                                                    8

2.1       Adolescents                                                                                                    8

2.2       Adolescent Girls                                                                                             8

2.2.1    Adolescent Girls Development                                                9

2.2.1.1 Physical Development                                                                                    9

2.2.1.2 Psychological Development                                                  10

2.2.1.3 Social/Emotional Development                                                11

2.3       The penalty of bearing child/children on adolescent                                      12

2.4       Interruption of school                                                                  13

2.4       Factors that contribute to adolescent pregnancy                  16

2.4.1    Family Relations                                                                        16

2.4.2    Family planning/ Contraception                                              19

2.6       Theoretical Framework                                                    21

2.6.1    Application of the theory                                                    21

CHAPTER THREE:  METHODLOGY

3.0       Introduction                                                                                      25

3.1       Research Design                                                                                            25

3.2       Population                                                                                25

3.3       Sample size and sampling Technique                             26

3.4       Research Instrumentation                                                            27

3.5       Validity and Reliability of Instrument                                28

3.6       Method of Data Collection                                                                           28

3.7       Method of Data Analysis                                                29

3.8       Ethical Consideration                                                         29

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA ANALYSIS, RESULTS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

4.0       Introduction                                                                            30

4.1       Analysis of the Research objectives                                       31

4.2       Section Two: Testing of Hypotheses                                      39

4.3       Discussion of Findings           41

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.0       Introduction                                                                             46

• Summary                                                                                                   46

5.2      Conclusion                                                                                                       47

5.3       Recommendations                                                                                      47

5.4       Limitation of the Study                                                                      48

5.5       Suggestion for Further Studies                                                       48

References                                                                                                                  49

Appendices                                                                                                                 55

LIST OF TABLES

Table               Page

3.3.1    Sampling of schools in Gardnerville                                                        27

3.3.2    Sampling of classes in the two selected schools               27

3.5.1    Cronbach’s alpha (α)                                                                                    28

4.1.1    Demographic characteristics                                                                     31

4.1.2    Knowledge of prevention towards unintended pregnancy 33

4.1.2.1 Summary of Table 4.1.2.1                                                                          34

4.1.3    Attitudinal disposition of adolescent girls towards prevention of

unintended pregnancy                                                                                             35

4.1.3.1 Summary of Table 4.1.3.1                                                            36

4.1.4    The level of perception of adolescent girls with regards to prevention of unintended pregnancy                                                                37

4.1.5    Self reported prevention of unintended pregnancy                                        39

4.2.1    Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis adolescent knowledge

 and perception of unintended pregnancy                                                      40

4.2.2    Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis adolescent knowledge

and prevention of unintended pregnancy                                                       40

4.2.3    Pearson Product Moment Correlation Analysis adolescent perception

and prevention of unintended pregnancy                                                       41

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure                                                                                    Page

Adapted health belief model of preventing unintended pregnancy               22