Reproductive Health Knowledge and Attitude among Adolescents: A community based study in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Adolescents often lack basic reproductive health RH information, knowledge, and access to health services for RH. Many have less than favorable attitudes and do not feel comfortable to discuss RH with parents or other key adults. Objectives: To assess RH knowledge, attitude and provider preference among adolescents of age 15 to 19 years. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia from February to March 2004. A structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data from the sampled population. Adolescents aged between 15 to 19 years old were interviewed about their knowledge and attitudes regarding health services for RH. The data were entered into two different computers using SPSS for windows version 12.0.1 and analyzed using STATA 9.1. Descriptive and bivariate analyses using t-test were employed to depict results. Results: The majority of adolescents knew major health services for RH and the main health service providers of RH. The major sources of information for RH were radio for 80.4% and television for 73% and school teachers for 71.8% of respondents. The overall mean score indices of knowledge for health services of RH, health services providers and source of information were 3.44, 3.78 and 4.68 respectively. The average index score of attitude for health services of RH was also moderately favorable (2.98). Conclusion: The level of knowledge and attitude about health services for RH, source of information for these services and service provider centers is encouraging. However, the role of health professionals and families as the source of information for the adolescents seems to be low. This should be improved using a more integrated all stakeholders particularly adolescents’ families and health professionals who have a vital role to ensure adequate knowledge and favorable attitudes for utilization of the RH in the locality. [Ethiop.J.Health Dev. 2008;22(3):243-251]