Knowledge and acceptance of family planning among senior high school (All for Christ Senior High) students (14-17) years in Berekum

Abstract

Introduction: Family planning is a crucial component of reproductive health that plays a significant role in managing population growth and improving maternal and child health. Understanding family planning knowledge and acceptance among adolescents is vital for designing effective educational programs and interventions. The study assessed the knowledge and acceptance of family planning among senior high school students aged 14-17 in Berekum. Survey was conducted with 50 senior high school students in Berekum All For Christ. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analysed to determine the levels of knowledge, sources of information, and factors influencing acceptance of family planning. Using SPSS, the statistical analyses including frequency distributions and percentage calculations were used to interpret the results. The findings reveal that, respondents had fair understanding of family planning, particularly as in controlling the timing and number of children. They were able to indicate method/devices; pill 80%, condom 52% and injection among others. Child spacing was a significant factor influencing the acceptance of family planning. Health care providers were the primary source of family planning information for most respondents, highlighting their crucial role. However, some misconceptions persist, such as the belief that family planning can cause infertility. The study recommend that schools and health organizations should provide clear, accurate family planning information to dispel myths like the fear of infertility. Adolescent corners and school health services should make popular methods, such as condoms are available and easy to get. Additionally, such a research can be carried out in a larger scale for easy generalization.