Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality
Objectives: We examined teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraception by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality. Methods: This was an explorative, analytical cross-sectional study using the mixed-method approach. Participants comprised 183 public and private basic s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2023-10-01
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| Series: | SAGE Open Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121231200414 |
| _version_ | 1797665356387450880 |
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| author | Fred Yao Gbagbo Keziah Love Mensah Josephine Akosua Gbagbo |
| author_facet | Fred Yao Gbagbo Keziah Love Mensah Josephine Akosua Gbagbo |
| author_sort | Fred Yao Gbagbo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objectives: We examined teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraception by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality. Methods: This was an explorative, analytical cross-sectional study using the mixed-method approach. Participants comprised 183 public and private basic school teachers and 20 school health coordinators in the study area. The statistical tests carried out were in two folds. Quantitative data were analyzed with a statistical package for social sciences version 20 to generate tables. A logistic regression model was used to examine associations between the predictor and the binary response variables. Adjusted odds ratio accounted for other predictor variables in the model. For the qualitative data, recorded interviews were transcribed and content analysis was done to identify themes, subthemes, and results presented as participants’ direct quotations/paraphrased statements. Knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes were assessed using 3-Likert scale type questions developed by the author. Results: Participants’ sociodemographic characteristics were associated with perceptions and attitudes toward contraception in basic schools. At 95% confidence intervals, the p -values were not significant for any of the variables tested. However, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) showed positive perceptions among participants aged 35–39 (aOR = 7.24; p = 0.35), women (aOR = 4.22; p = 0.25), higher educated (aOR = 4.32; p = 0.56), work experience between 16 and 20 years (aOR = 6.65; p = 0.96), four or more children (aOR = 6.35; p = 0.96); divorcee (aOR = 10.12; p = 2.92); intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) (aOR = 5.02; p = 2.43); or condoms users (aOR = 7.09; p = 0.32). Negative perceptions were noted among affiliates of other religions compared to Christians (aOR = 0.19; p = 0.01) and subject teachers (aOR = 0.39; p = 0.01). Participants’ perceptions were directly influenced by attitudes toward contraception and knowledge ( p = 0.081). The qualitative findings showed mixed feelings about contraceptive education in basic schools. Conclusions: Basic school teachers have challenges with contraceptive education which have implications for comprehensive sex education in Ghanaian basic schools. We recommend a similar study among parents of the pupils and a nationwide study to examine this concept further. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T19:43:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b2253e049f646f488a7c428e7464a5b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-3121 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T19:43:39Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SAGE Open Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b2253e049f646f488a7c428e7464a5b2023-10-06T06:03:38ZengSAGE PublishingSAGE Open Medicine2050-31212023-10-011110.1177/20503121231200414Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian MunicipalityFred Yao Gbagbo0Keziah Love Mensah1Josephine Akosua Gbagbo2Department of Health Administration and Education, Faculty of Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, GhanaDepartment of Health Administration and Education, Faculty of Science Education, University of Education, Winneba, GhanaDepartment of Political Science Education, Faculty of Social Science, University of Education, Winneba, GhanaObjectives: We examined teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraception by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality. Methods: This was an explorative, analytical cross-sectional study using the mixed-method approach. Participants comprised 183 public and private basic school teachers and 20 school health coordinators in the study area. The statistical tests carried out were in two folds. Quantitative data were analyzed with a statistical package for social sciences version 20 to generate tables. A logistic regression model was used to examine associations between the predictor and the binary response variables. Adjusted odds ratio accounted for other predictor variables in the model. For the qualitative data, recorded interviews were transcribed and content analysis was done to identify themes, subthemes, and results presented as participants’ direct quotations/paraphrased statements. Knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes were assessed using 3-Likert scale type questions developed by the author. Results: Participants’ sociodemographic characteristics were associated with perceptions and attitudes toward contraception in basic schools. At 95% confidence intervals, the p -values were not significant for any of the variables tested. However, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) showed positive perceptions among participants aged 35–39 (aOR = 7.24; p = 0.35), women (aOR = 4.22; p = 0.25), higher educated (aOR = 4.32; p = 0.56), work experience between 16 and 20 years (aOR = 6.65; p = 0.96), four or more children (aOR = 6.35; p = 0.96); divorcee (aOR = 10.12; p = 2.92); intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) (aOR = 5.02; p = 2.43); or condoms users (aOR = 7.09; p = 0.32). Negative perceptions were noted among affiliates of other religions compared to Christians (aOR = 0.19; p = 0.01) and subject teachers (aOR = 0.39; p = 0.01). Participants’ perceptions were directly influenced by attitudes toward contraception and knowledge ( p = 0.081). The qualitative findings showed mixed feelings about contraceptive education in basic schools. Conclusions: Basic school teachers have challenges with contraceptive education which have implications for comprehensive sex education in Ghanaian basic schools. We recommend a similar study among parents of the pupils and a nationwide study to examine this concept further.https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121231200414 |
| spellingShingle | Fred Yao Gbagbo Keziah Love Mensah Josephine Akosua Gbagbo Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality SAGE Open Medicine |
| title | Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality |
| title_full | Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality |
| title_fullStr | Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality |
| title_short | Toward contraception education in basic schools: Teachers’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a Ghanaian Municipality |
| title_sort | toward contraception education in basic schools teachers knowledge perceptions and attitudes regarding contraceptive use by basic school pupils in a ghanaian municipality |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20503121231200414 |
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