Knowledge, attitudes and practice of contraception amongst secondary school students in Yaounde, Cameroon: a study of perception differences between males and females

Abstract

Six hundred and thirteen (613) students from 11 selected secondary schools in Yaoundé meeting our inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study aimed at assessing and comparing knowledge, attitudes, and practice of contraception among students of both sexes. A structured standardized questionnaire was used to collect information from 340 females (55.5%) and 273 males (45.5%). We found that knowledge about sexuality, reproduction and contraception was low especially among males, younger students and those who were not sexually active. Sexually inactive students risk getting into sexual activity without using contraception. Risky attitudes and practices included multiplicity of partners, lack of contraceptive use and preference of natural methods to modern methods. In addition parents don't encourage their kids to use contraception. We recommend that the subgroups cited above be given special attention and proposed an educational program for secondary school adolescents taking this into consideration.

Clinics in Mother and Child Health Vol. 2(2) 2005: 365-368