Knowledge and use of contraceptive methods among female students at Kibi School for the Deaf

Abstract

This study was conducted to understand the knowledge and use of contraceptive methods among female students at Kibi School for the Deaf. This study employed quantitative approach and case study as a design. Data were gathered from 27 female students. Questionnaire was used to obtain data from participants. The data were processed using SSPS software to separate the raw data obtained from the field. The results showed that participants’ knowledge about contraceptive methods are relatively not encouraging, with 40.7% of participants knowing at least a method. The common sources of information regarding contraceptives method among the participants was through their friends and peers representing 22.2%. Participants had Knowledge of at least one contraceptive method and this was mostly knowledge of condoms. Result of this study revealed that the knowledge does not correspond with the use of contraceptive methods among the students. Twenty out of the 27 participants constituting 74.1 percent confirmed they have not used any type of contraceptive methods before. Although some the female deaf students (25.9 percent) had reported ever using a contraceptive method, consistent contraceptive use is very low. Again, it was revealed that students were unable to get access to contraceptive methods due to inadequate education on the relevance of using it. The study further revealed that, the female deaf students have negative misconception of using contraceptive methods. The study recommended that government through the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service should make the learning of reproductive health education as part of the education curriculum of students with special needs to enhance the impartation of knowledge and use of contraceptive methods. It is also recommended that parents and teachers must encourage the use of contraceptive methods among female deaf students, the surest way to prevent unwanted pregnancy as well as contracting sexually transmitted infections (STI’s) considering their condition.