Effect of Knowledge on the Causes, Consequences and Prevention of Unwanted Pregnancy among Adolescents in Selected Government Secondary Schools in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Nigerian mortality rate is still high in relation to unwanted pregnancy among adolescents and this constitutes a great problem to the society since early pregnancy and pregnancy outside wedlock are not the acceptable practice especially in the south west region of the country. There is low information on sexuality education to the adolescents most especially from the parents during early childhood period that is necessary for the upbringing of children in the prevention of unwanted pregnancy among the adolescents. The objectives of this study are to assess the knowledge of the pupils on causes, consequences and prevention of unwanted pregnancy and to enhance their knowledge on sex education.

The study utilized two groups' pre and post quasi experimental research design. A sample size of 373 students was randomly selected out of 1329 utilizing Cochran's formula but 360 completed the study. The total numbers of 185 and 175 students were used as experimental and control group respectively. Descriptive statistics were used to answer research questions and paired t-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. A teaching package was used as intervention for the experimental group while the control group was excluded.

The study concluded that the training package utilized in this study enhanced the knowledge of students on the causes, consequences and prevention of unwanted pregnancy thus making them to be well informed. These findings could contribute to the reduction of unwanted pregnancy among the adolescents. Therefore, it was recommended that periodic sex education should be included in the school's curriculum and should be given in collaboration with medical professionals.