The Acceptance of Family Planning Among the Adolescent
Chapter One
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
- To identify adolescent attitudes towards family-planning methods.
- To find out the role of education in family planning services.
- To make available the appropriate method of contraception for sexually active adolescents.
- To improve the people’s socio-economic status, and the nation’s development as a whole.
Chapter Two
LITERATURE REVIEW
Sexuality Education
Sexuality Education is broadly defined as any instruction in the processes and consequences of sexual activity, ordinarily given to children and adolescents. Today the term usually refers to classroom lessons about sex taught schools (Boyd et al 2000).
Historically, the task of instructing adolescents about sex has been seen as the responsibility of the parents. But parent-child communication in sexual matters may be hindered by parental inhibitions or by various intergenerational tensions, and studies have shown that children rarely receive their first information on sexual matters from their parents.
In the late 19th century, attempts by educators and social workers to supplement parental sex instruction concentrated on what was then known as “social hygiene”—basically, biological and medical information about human reproduction and venereal disease. In the post-World War II era, however, the relaxation of traditional social norms governing sexual activity, as well as the torrent of sex-related information available to children via the mass media, made a more sophisticated and comprehensive program of sex education seem desirable to many. The obvious forum for such an effort was the public school.
In the mid-20th century, many U.S. school districts established sex-education programs that ranged from a few lectures given to secondary school students to integrated and comprehensive lessons beginning in kindergarten and extending through 12th grade or junior college. The variety of subjects covered include the physical processes of human reproduction; the workings of male and female sex organs; the origin, dissemination, and effects of venereal disease; family roles and structures; and the emotional and psychological causes and consequences of sex, marriage, and parenting. Frequently, however, the larger societal and ethical questions stemming from sexual behavior, being highly subjective in nature, are not regarded as appropriate to a strictly factual approach. At all levels of instruction, teaching methods may include visual aids, lectures, and moderated discussions.
Surveys have shown that in the U.S. many parents approve of some type of public school sex education, but in practice there has always been opposition to such programs. Questions about the state’s usurpation of parental rights and responsibilities, the adequacy of ethical instruction, and the wisdom of imparting sexual information to immature minds have been raised by concerned opponents (CHESTRAD, (1997).
Family Planning
Family planning services are “the ability of individuals and couples to anticipate and attain their desired number of children and the spacing and timing of their births. It is achieved through use of contraceptive methods and the treatment of involuntary infertility.” Family planning may involve consideration of the number of children a woman wishes to have, including the choice to have no children and the age at which she wishes to have them. These matters are influenced by external factors such as marital situation, career considerations, financial position, and any disabilities that may affect their ability to have children and raise them. If sexually active, family planning may involve the use of contraception and other techniques to control the timing of reproduction (Barker, G. K & Rich, S. 1992).
Family planning has been of practice since the 16th century by the people of Djenné in West Africa. Physicians advised women to space their children, having them every three years rather than too many and too quickly. Other aspects of family planning include sex education, prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections, pre-conception counseling and management, and infertility management. Family planning, as defined by the United Nations and the World Health Organization, encompasses services leading up to conception. Abortion is not a component of family planning, although access to contraception and family planning reduces the need for abortion (Kulig, J.W. (1989).
Family planning is sometimes used as a synonym or euphemism for access to and the use of contraception. However, it often involves methods and practices in addition to contraception. Additionally, many might wish to use contraception but are not necessarily, planning a family (e.g., unmarried adolescents, young married couples delaying childbearing while building a career). Family planning has become a catch-all phrase for much of the work undertaken in this realm. However, contemporary notions of family planning tend to place a woman and her childbearing decisions at the center of the discussion, as notions of women’s empowerment and reproductive autonomy have gained traction in many parts of the world. It is usually applied to a female-male couple who wish to limit the number of children they have or control pregnancy timing (also known as spacing children).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
AREA OF STUDY
Ethiope East is a one of the 25 Local Government Areas in Delta State, Nigeria. It’s headquarter is Otorhoragbon. Ethiope East LGA has three districts, namely, Abraka, Agbon and Otorhoragbon. It also has 67 villages. It has an area of 380 km² and a population of 200,792 according to the 2006 census.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitute of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried out to examine the acceptance of family planning among the adolescent using some selected secondary schools in Ethiope East Local Government, Delta State as case study. The teachers and the students from three (3) selected secondary schools in Ethiope East Local Government, Delta State form the population of the study.
The three (3) selected secondary school for this study are:
Umiaghwa Secondary School, Abraka
Eku Girls Secondary School
Baptist High School, Eku Town
Statistics from the school registers of the selected schools shows that the population of the senior secondary students is 259.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
DATA PRESENTATION
CHAPTER FIVE
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
CONCLUSION
In this study, our focus was to examine the acceptance of family planning among the adolescent using some selected secondary schools in Ethiope East Local Government, Delta State as case study. The study specifically was aimed at ascertaining if education creates family planning service; if family planning help in appropriate of contraceptive for adolescent that are sexually active; and if family planning improve socio-economic status of the people.
The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 150 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent are teachers and students of the selected secondary schools in Ethiope East Local Government, Delta State.
The findings revealed that Education creates family planning service; Family planning help in appropriate of contraceptive for adolescent that are sexually active; and that family planning improve socio-economic status of the people.
RECOMMENDATION
Based on the responses obtained, the researcher proffers the following recommendations:
Family Planning is not only to avoid the impending disaster of over-population but also for the well-being of mothers since it avoids unnecessary abortions and also reduces the number of times a woman gives birth. With every pregnancy the risk towards maternal health increases so it is better to avoid unnecessary pregnancy at the first place. Family Planning would also lead to an enhancement in the health of the baby that is born since a healthy mother would definitely give birth to a healthy child. So, it is high time we implement this in our lives and get some fruitful results.
Adolescents in schools should be properly taught on family planning under sex education to help them know its benefits and to avoid unwanted pregnancy, STDs etc. this will help them to have the knowledge of how to take care of themselves.
REFERENCES
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- Action Health Incorporated (AHI), (2002). Guide for setting up adolescent – Friendly Health services. Lagos: Fine Print Limited.
- Advocates for Youths, (1995). Facts “Adolescent sexuality in Nigeria.” Washington DC: AFI.
- Agyei, W.K.A & Epema, E.J., (1992). Sexual behaviour and contractive use among 15 – 24 year olds in Uganda. International Family Planning Perspective, 18(1), 13 – 17.
- Archibong, E.I, (1991). Illegal induced abortion: A continuing problem in Nigeria. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 34: 261 – 265.
- Barker, G. K & Rich, S. (1992). Peer interaction and traditional and modern influences on adolescent sexuality in Nigeria and Kenya: findings from recent Focus Publishers Limited.
- Bannett, V.R, & Brown L.K. (2001). Myles textbook for midwives, 13th edition. Edinburg: Harcourt Publishers Limited.
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- Billy, J. O. G; Brewster, K. L. & Grady, W. R. (1994). Contextual effects on the sexual behaviour of adolescent women. Journal of Marriage and Family, 56(2), 3874 – 404.
