ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND Adolescence is a crucial transition marked by puberty, physical changes, and increased risk-taking behaviours. Access to sexual and reproductive health education is essential to prevent unintended consequences like Sexually Transmitted Infections and unplanned pregnancies. Challenges to contraception use are knowledge gaps, cultural values, stigma, and inadequate healthcare systems. OBJECTIVES This study aims to understand the current knowledge, attitude, and practice of contraceptives among adolescents. The findings can help in designing targeted intervention programs to improve access to and use of contraceptives, ultimately reducing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS This research was conducted at the University of Benin Demonstration Secondary School (UDSS) in Ovia North-East Local Government Area (LGA), Benin City, Edo State. A sample size of 419 adolescents aged 10-19 years was determined using Cochran’s formula. This research employed a descriptive cross-sectional study using a stratified sampling technique. Data was collected through a structured self-administered questionnaire and analysed using IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS) version 27.0. The level of significance was set at p= < 0.05 with a Confidence Interval of 95%. Data presentation included the use of frequency tables, charts, and prose. Data analysis involved Univariate and Bivariate analysis, as well as forward logistics regression. 17 RESULT The mean age ± SD of respondents was 13.7 ± 1.7 years. Most 231 (86.2%) had poor contraceptive knowledge, over half 237 (56.6%) had a good attitude towards contraceptives, and 21 (77.8%) had poor contraceptive practices. Knowledge was associated with age, class, marital status, age at menarche, and nocturnal emission (p<0.001). Class was a significant predictor of knowledge (AOR=22.844, 95% CI=2.854-182.867, p=0.003). Attitude was associated with knowledge (p<0.001) and age at nocturnal emission was a significant predictor of attitude (AOR=2.291, 95% CI=1.134-4.629, p=0.021). Practice of contraceptive use was associated with age (p=0.010), age at nocturnal emission (p=0.008), primary caregiver (p=0.002), marital status, residents, knowledge and attitude (p<0.001). Marital status was a significant predictor of practice (AOR=0.133, 95% CI=0.018-0.975, p=0.047). CONCLUSION Despite generally positive attitudes towards contraceptives among adolescents, there is a lack of knowledge and inconsistent use. This requires improving comprehensive sexual education, enhancing access to reliable contraceptive information, and fostering open dialogues about sexual health to better support informed choices and improve sexual health outcomes. KEYWORDS Adolescents, Puberty, Contraception, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Contraceptive use, Youthfriendly Centres, Risk-taking behaviours, Secondary School, Sexual and reproductive health education, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), Unplanned pregnancies.
