PERCEPTION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TOWARDS THE USE OF CONTRACEPTIVES

PERCEPTION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TOWARDS THE USE OF CONTRACEPTIVES

ABSTRACT

The study attempted to investigate the perception of undergraduate student towards the use of contraceptives at the University of Lagos. In this study, relevant and extensive literatures were reviewed under relevant sub-heading. Also, the descriptive survey research design was used in the assessment of the respondents’ opinions with the use of the questionnaire and the sampling technique.

A total of 150 (one hundred and fifty) students in the Faculty of Education were used as participants in this study, thereby representing the entire population of the students at the Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, Akoka.

Equally, 3 (three) null hypotheses were formulated and tested with the use of the Pearson Product Moment Correlational Coefficient Statistical tool at 0.05 level of significance. While the bio-data and the research questions were analysed with the use of the simple percentage frequency counts.

At the end of the analyses, the following results were obtained:

(1)         Hypothesis one revealed that there is a significant relationship between students’ perception and the use of contraceptives at University of Lagos.

(2)         Hypothesis two indicated that there is a significant relationship between students’ use of contraceptives and avoidance of pregnancies.

(3)         It was found in hypothesis three that a significant gender difference exists in the use of contraceptives amongst students at the University of Lagos.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 Background to the Study

By the time young people reach fourteen or sixteen years of age, their biological development is established. Most puberty changes have occurred and most of their physical attributes are set (Cross 1992). Still, the teen years are considered by most authorities in development to be the most stressful. Personal appearance and social popularity grow to be overwhelming forces in teens’ daily life. According to Darroch and Singh (2000), teenagers naturally make sexual behaviour a part of attaining peer affirmation. A teen may be asked, dared or may even belittled into proving solidarity with the peer group by performing sexual acts (Lewis and Lewis, 2004). As Ounyea (1994) puts it, research studies have shown that teenagers consistently submit to sexual pressures even without any inducement from peers.

Hein (2001) observed that sexuality education for adolescents must present materials perceived as relevant to them, in a factual manner that avoids the appearance of preaching or admonishment. Adolescents of this level, possess a strong sense of autonomy. They easily detect in adult, especially their teachers, hidden strategies designed to alter their behaviour or thinking. Course material and exercises examining reproduction, contraception and communication are among the more meaningful at this stage, but prevention of sexual assault and information on sexual variables also generated interest among adolescent (Dryfold, 2003). At this stage, students requires contemporary information and the use of contraceptives.

The average student today in higher institutions especially at the University of Lagos, grew up in the pill era and simply assumes that highly effective methods of contraception are available. It is difficult sometimes to remember that this has been true only for about the last three decades and previously contraception was a hit-or-miss affair at best (Adekeye, 2000). According to him, contraception is less controversial than it once was (except for the issue of side effects).

PERCEPTION OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TOWARDS THE USE OF CONTRACEPTIVES