ABSTRACT 

Unwanted pregnancy followed by unsafe abortion can be avoided by using different contraceptive methods. Information on knowledge, attitude and practice of contraceptives among youth is particular important because of high rates of teenage and unwanted pregnancies as well as soaring STI and HIV.AIDS rates. Unfortunately, in Nigeria, the case is not different as significant proportion of youth who engages in premarital sex, either lack basic knowledge of contraception, or are ignorant about contraceptive practices. This study examined the knowledge, and use of contraceptive method among youth in Abuja metropolis. A cross-sectional of five hundred (500) youth aged 15-25 years was carried out using instruments like other-administered structured interview schedule, in-depth interviews and informal conversation to collect data. The analysis of the data showed majority of the youth in Abuja metropolis are sexually experienced (58.2%) with most of the first sexual experiences occurring within the 15-19 years age group. There is a high level of knowledge (78.8%) of contraceptive methods available and where to get them but the level of contraceptive use is relatively lower (34.6%) even for the sexually active notwithstanding their level of education especially the students at higher institutions. This could be attributed to barriers to contraceptive use identified by them which includes embarrassment to buy, fear of side effect, disapproval by partner and lack of proper knowledge of contraceptive. Finally, it was concluded that there is a wide disparity between contraceptive knowledge and practice which need to be bridged. There is also need to review policies regarding reproductive health, sexuality and family life education among youth in Nigeria.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page - - - - - - - - - i

Certification - - - - - - - - - ii

Dedication - - - - - - - - - iii

Acknowledgement - - - - - - - - iv

Abstract - - - - - - - - - vi

List of Tables - - - - - - - - - vii

List of Figures- - - - - - - - - x

List of Abbreviations and Acronyms - - - - - - xi

Table of Contents - - - - - - - - xii

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study - - - - - - 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem - - - - - - 3

1.3 Research Questions - - - - - - - 6

1.4 Objective of the Study - - - - - - 7

1.5 Significance of the Study - - - - - - 7

1.6 Operatinalization of Concepts- - - - - - 8

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Empirical Literature Review - - - - - - 12

2.1.1 Maternal Mortality in Developed and Developing Nations - - 12

2.1.2 Maternal Mortality Ratio in Nigeria - - - - 14

2.1.3 Adolescent Knowledge and use of Contraceptive - - - 16

2.1.4 Trends in Unwanted Pregnancy - - - - - 18

2.1.5 Contraception in Nigeria - - - - - - 20

2.1.6 Factors Affecting Contraception - - - - - 21

2.2 Review of Relevant Theories - - - - - - 23

2.3 Theoretical Framework - - - - - - 26

2.4 Research Hypotheses - - - - - - - 27

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.1 The Research Design - - - - - - - 28

3.2 The area of the Study - - - - - - - 29

3.3 The population of Study - - - - - - 29

3.4 Sample and Sampling Procedure - - - - - 30

3.5 Instrument for Data Collection - - - - - 31

3.6 Methods of Data Collection - - - - - - 31

3.7 Methods of Data Analysis - - - - - - 32

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1 Personal Data of the Respondents - - - - - 34

4.2 Knowledge of Contraception - - - - - - 42

4.3 Sexual History- - - - - - -- - 52

4.4 Barrier to Contraceptive Use - - - - - 62

4.5 Test of Hypotheses - - - - - - - 65

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Summary of Findings - - - - - - - 69

5.2 Knowledge and Use of Contraceptives - - - - 70

5.3 Sexual History- - - - - - - 70

5.4 Contraceptive Use - - - - - - - 71

5.5 Barriers to contraceptive Use - - - - - - 71

5.6 Conclusion - - - - - - - - 73

5.7 Recommendations - - - - - - - 74

REFERENCES - - - - - - - - 76

APPENDICES - - - - - - - 86