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CONTRACEPTIVE AWARENESS OF TEEANAGERS ENGAGEMENT IN PREMARTIAL SEX

Alvin G. Cuado
Grade 11 STEM - Zeal 5A
Senior High School Department
University of Cebu - Main, Cebu City, Philippines

I. INTRODUCTION
Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and unwanted pregnancies
among youths through effective contraceptive use is a global public health problem and has
been given a due priority among the millennium development goals (Welti, Wildsmith, &
Manlove, 2011; WHO, 2012). Despite increased research targeted at investigating
adolescence sexual behaviour in recent decades with the aim of providing interventions to
improve sexual health of this vulnerable sub-population group, the menace of unplanned
pregnancy, abortion and STDs including HIV/AIDS have increased unabated (Fagbamigbe,
Adebowale, & Olaniyan, 2011; Wellings et al., 2006).
According to World health statistics, progress has been made in reducing the birth
rate among adolescents but the report further affirmed that over 15 million of the estimated
135 million live births worldwide are to girls aged 1519 years and slightly higher figure
among those aged 20-24 years (World Health Statistics, 2014). Most of these births from
teenagers and young adults are from undesired pregnancies. Pregnancy risks among women
aged 15-19 has increased over the years with a widening gap between age of sexual debut
and age of marriage and increased sexual activity prior to marriage (Bearinger, Sieving,
Ferguson, & Sharma, 2007; Mensch, Grant, & Blanc, 2006). This is probably due to social
interaction and economic vulnerability. Modern Contraceptives (MCP) uptake in the
developing countries is generally lower than developed countries (Bearinger et al., 2007).
The consequences of early and unwanted pregnancies have been documented. While some
results in abortion and deaths of the victims, others result in early child bearing. Unsafe
abortions are more prevalent among pregnant adolescents and youths than adults (World
Health Statistics, 2014). Also early childbearing reduces the chance of survival of both
mothers and their newborns. It has been reported that complications arising from early
pregnancy and childbirth are a major cause of death among female youths especially in low
income countries (Fatusi, 2009; Statistics, 2011; WHO, 2014). It also leads to termination of
education and lower prospect for employment among females (A. L. B. Finer & Philbin, 2013;
Hubacher, Mavranezouli, & Mc Ginn, 2008; Mahfouz, Elsaid, Al-Erian, & Hamid, 1995).

Worldwide, youths are more vulnerable to HIV and other STDs than any other age
group. Improper use or outright non-use of MCP during sexual activities may further worsen
the incidence of HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases (Fagbamigbe et al.,
2011; Shisana et al., 2014; Tilahun & Ayele, 2013). Compared with general population HIV
prevalence of 3.4% in Nigeria, 2.9% and 3.2% HIV prevalence has been reported among those
aged 15-19 and 20-24 years respectively (FMoH, 2013). An international HIV incidence rates
showed that about one in four HIV incidents are among youths aged 15-24 years (HIV
Disclosure To Children, 2015) while the prevalence among youths aged 15-24 years in south
Africa has been put at 7.1% (Shisana et al., 2014).
The use of MCP or otherwise at earlier stage of life may affect its continuous
utilization. The advantages of using MCP include prevention of unintended pregnancy, STDs
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including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (Ekundayo et al., 2007; Fagbamigbe et al.,
2011; National Population Commission (Nigeria) and ICF International., 2014; Tilahun &
Ayele, 2013). According to a U.S. study on contraceptive use among teenagers and young
adults, the risk of unintended pregnancy and STDs can be reduced by using highly effective
contraceptive methods and use of condoms consistently and correctly respectively among
Sexually Active Teens and Young Adults (SATYA) (Welti et al., 2011). By extension, use of MCP
will block exposure to unnecessary abortion and other adverse maternal outcomes such as
maternal and child mortality and morbidity (Salihu et al., 2006), and other socioeconomic
consequences such as terminated education, poorer housing, abandonments by partners,
family and community, disgrace and humiliation, low chance of getting employed, poor
nutrition (Allen & Bourke, 1997; Central Statistical Agency [Ethiopia] and ORC Macro, 2011;
Mitike, Yemane, & Bernt, 2008). Consistent use of MC can help win the battle against
HIV/STIs among young people (USAID, 2012).

Statement of the Problem

The main purpose of this study is to promote contraceptive awareness for teenagers
to avoid teenage pregnancy and getting infected of HIVs and STDs.

Specifically, this study aims to answer the following questions:

1. What is the importance of contraceptive use to teenagers?
2. What are the benefits and constraints towards contraceptive use of teenagers?
3. What are the insights of teenagers who engaged in pre-marital sex about
contraceptive use?
4. Why do teenagers need to be aware about contraceptive use?

Scope and Limitation

In this study, the researcher mainly focused on depicting the awareness of
contraceptive use among teenagers in order to avoid teenage pregnancy and the alarming
increase of HIV and STD cases worldwide. Primarily, the Grade 11 of Senior High School
students under STEM strand of University of Cebu Main Campus of second semester of S.Y.
2016 2017 are the participants of this study.

Significance of the Study

This study will be beneficial to parents for them to be able to create a sense of security
to their sons and daughters to get rid on the chances of getting affected with STDs or HIV or
to impregnate or being impregnated at an early age. The end product will serve as a guide for
other researchers who would like to embark on a conduct of a study of similar in nature.
Above all, this study will primarily benefit the teenagers wherein the result will guide them
to be meticulous and careful towards the possible consequences of premarital and unsafe
sex.

Objectives of the Study

Intentionally, this research aims to: identify the importance of contraceptive use
among teenagers; determine the benefits and constraints towards contraceptive use among
students; examine the insights of teenagers who engage in pre-marital sex in relation to
contraceptive use; and promote awareness on contraceptive use in order to address
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problems towards the consequences of premarital sex.

This qualitative study intends to promote the awareness of contraceptive use of

teenagers who engage in pre-marital sex by the means to educate, re-educate and establish
a safe and health-conscious generation of teenagers.

II. LITERATURE REVIEW

Literature is replete on factors affecting use of MCP among teens and young adults.
They include age at educational attainment, religion, economic status, ethnicity, cultural
practices, rural-urban residence and region of residence. Others include knowledge of
contraceptives, reasons for having sex, preparedness for sex, communication on
contraceptive use among partners, duration of relationship before sexual debut, level of
social deprivation, parents openness and warmth and availability during their childrens
primary school and early teenage years, etc (Ezire, Oluigbo, Archibong, Ifeanyi, & Anyanti,
2013; Fagbamigbe et al., 2011; L. B. Finer & Philbin, 2013; Martinez, Copen, & Abma, 2011;
Stone & Ingham, 2002; Wellings et al., 2006; Widman, Noar, Choukas-Bradley, & Francis,
2014).

Discussion of contraceptive use among sexual partners may affect its usage. Stone et
al found that 42% of males and 27% females do not discuss contraceptive use before having
sex (Stone & Ingham, 2002). The current status of reproductive health education in certain
part of the globe remains a barrier towards use of MCP among youths. It remains a taboo in
some societies to discuss sex; some parents especially in Africa still consider sexuality
discussions with their ward a forbidden topic (Doctor, Findley, Afenyadu, Uzondu, & Ashir,
2013; Phetla et al., 2008; Stone & Ingham, 2002; Wood et al., 1997). While some elder
sisters were reported to have played important roles in first contraceptive use, they
sometimes exclude siblings from conversations they might be having with friends about
contraception, and are often scolded for eavesdropping (Wood et al., 1997). However, peers
have been reported to play better roles in the dissemination of information on contraceptive
use (Stone & Ingham, 2002).

Religion and Socio-cultural differences have also been identified to have affected the
use of contraceptives during first sexual experience and thereafter, especially in some African
culture that either forbids sexual talks or betroths girls early in life (Adebowale, Fagbamigbe,
Okareh, & Lawal, 2012; Ashir, Doctor, & Afenyadu, 2013; Doctor, Bairagi, Findley, &
Helleringer, 2011). Some religions also forbid use of contraceptives. A recent study in the US
found more contraceptive use among nonHispanic white than among Hispanic or Latino or
non-Hispanic blacks (Martinez et al., 2011).

Age at first sexual intercourse was found to be associated with contraceptive use
(Martinez et al., 2011; Welti et al., 2011). More people that got initiated late (18+ years), used
contraceptive than others that started very earlier (Martinez et al., 2011). Also, a previous
study in South West Nigeria, reported differences in regular condom use among in-school
and out-of-school with 11% among former and 21% among the later. The authors noted that
out-of-school youths were about one and half times more likely to use condom than in-school
 4

youths (Fagbamigbe et al., 2011).

Several studies have addressed MCP use among the general population and also
among the youths (Adebowale, Fagbamigbe, & Bamgboye, 2011; Ezire et al., 2013;
Fagbamigbe et al., 2011) but studies focussing on gender and age at sexual initiation
differentials in MCP use among youths are scarce particularly in subSahara Africa. Literature
had suggested that reproductive health research needs to go beyond mere modelling of
health behaviour to exploration of factors that predicts the timing of early sexual activities,
and determinants of effective contraceptive use (Stone & Ingham, 2002). Considering the fact
that the use of MCP or otherwise early in life may affect its continuous utilization, there is
urgent need to assess prevalence of use across gender and age at sexual initiation as well as
factors that predisposes MCP use among teens and youths. This study is therefore designed
to assess use of MCP as well as its determinants so as to inform all stakeholders on the need
to promote the use of MCP among sexually active teenagers and young adults right from
sexual debut.

III. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This study employed a phenomenological approach in understanding the reasons of

teenagers engagement in pre-marital sex and to determine their awareness in contraceptive
use as to the possible problems that they may get if engaged to unsafe sex.

The study was conducted at University of Cebu Main Campus as suitable avenue to
gather the needed respondents of this research. The location set a wide variety of teenagers
based on background characteristics (gender, age, cultural background, social status, family
background, and academic status).

Purposive sampling was utilized in this study wherein a total of 10 random Grade 11
students of senior high school department who were taking Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand of the second semester of S.Y. 2016-2017 were
the selected participants. They composed of five men and five women of about 15-18 years
of age range and categorized as the typical samples regardless of the other background
characteristics as long as credibility on the experiences of premarital sex engagement were
conclusive.

The research instrument was a structured interview composed of three parts: (1)
importance of contraceptives; (2) benefits and constraints of using contraceptives; and (3)
insights of the participants towards contraceptive use. Questions were critically constructed
and carefully assessed to examine the aforementioned objectives of this study. It was a
theme-focused discussion and avoided irrelevant questions not necessary about the topic. As
a support, an audio recorder was used to get the exact responses of the participants in
verbatim to maintain authenticity and assure avoidance of data fabrication.

Preliminary data were gathered through reliable books and online journals like
Google Scholar, Proquest and DOI. Secondary data were collated from series of interviews
with a secured approval letter signed by the research adviser and the senior high school
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principal prior to the conduct of the interview. Upon approval, the interviews were scheduled
and set in a distraction-free environment where the participants can fully concentrate in
providing answers to the questions asked by the interviewer.

The qualitative data gathered were interpreted through deductive approach using
content analysis intended to categorize verbal or behavioral data for the purpose of
classification, summarization, and tabulation. The software hyperTRANSCRIBE was also
used to assist in transcribing the audio files appropriately.

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