Attitude of teachers to school based adolescent reproductive health interventions

Abstract

Adults may facilitate or obstruct healthy sexual behaviours by adolescents; hence information on their attitude towards adolescent sexual behaviour, including contraceptive use is important. The attitude of teachers to school-based adolescent reproductive health services was assessed among two hundred and twenty three teachers in Sagamu. Forty seven percent of them were trained family life educators while 52.9% had not received any training in adolescent reproductive health. Many of the teachers were aware of the common sexual and reproductive health problems of young people. Eighty seven percent approved of teaching sex education to adolescents in schools, 55.6% approved of contraceptive use by the adolescents and 52.9% approved of condom use. However, 52% of them believed contraceptive use should be initiated within marriage or after 18 years of age. Ninety-one percent of the teachers disapproved of condom demonstration and provision in schools. Only 36.2% were willing to counsel the sexually active adolescents about contraceptive use. Teachers indicated an interest in being involved in promoting the sexual health of their students but they preferred to counsel about abstinence. The family life educators had a more positive attitude to condom use than the other teachers; however this difference was not statistically significant. There is a need to educate teachers about adolescent contraception and why it is important for the sexually active adolescent to use contraceptives so as to protect their health and future, which the teachers also want to protect.

Key Words: Teachers; Attitudes, School-based; Adolescent; Sexuality; Education

Journal of Community Medicine & Primary Health Care Vol.16(1) 2004: 4-9