Background/Objectives
Adolescent unintended pregnancies are a major public health challenge in developing countries. Adolescent pregnancy leads to childbirth complications, maternal morbidity and mortality, socioeconomic consequences, and long-term adverse effects. There is a paucity of data on the dynamics of contraceptive use among adolescents. This study was conducted to explore the dynamics and changes in contraceptive use among adolescents in Abia state, Nigeria.
Materials and Methods
An exploratory sequential mixed-method approach was used. The qualitative method involved thirty-eight participants, who were adolescents from pre-civil war to contemporary times, recruited purposively. The quantitative method involved 980 adolescents. Using an in-depth guide and semi-structured questionnaire, information was elicited on adolescent contraceptive use. The qualitative study was subjected to thematic analysis while the quantitative was subjected to descriptive analysis.
Results
Female pre-civil and war-time adolescents' reported using waist beads to prevent pregnancy, when the bead fails; they took native roots mixed with hot drinks. The post-civil war adolescents reported using drugs mixed from chemist and native herbs. Contemporary parents of adolescents reported using postinor-2, Andrew liver salt, salt and water, soda water, and white quinine. Contemporary adolescents reported washing their vagina with cold/hot water with salt, drinking hot water with salt, soft drinks like 7up with salt, pills, postinor-2, and Andrew liver salt. The quantitative data revealed that of the three hundred and five contemporary adolescents that had sex, (54.8%) didn't use any method of contraception, and (23%) used condoms. While male adolescents' pre, during and post-civil war times used nothing to prevent impregnating their patterns, a few male contemporary adolescents reported using condoms and withdrawal methods.
Conclusions
The study revealed that adolescents used traditional and crude means as methods of contraception. Public health education is crucial to increase the uptake of modern contraception among adolescents in Nigeria.
