ICT: Breaking Barriers to Contraceptives Information and Usage among Adolescents in the Sunyani East Municipality, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana

Authors

  • Abdulai Abubakari
  • Eunice Prah

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47672/ejt.823

Keywords:

ICT, contraceptives, adolescents, perception, sociocultural barriers.

Abstract

Introduction: Information Communication Technology (ICT) is the use of computers, mobile phones and internet to access, process, receive, send, and use various kinds of data and information. With the expansion of mobile phone users and availability of internet services, teenagers are now using ICT to create awareness and use contraceptives, an area considered to be the preserved of married couple.

Purpose: The paper examines how the application of ICT by teenagers broken traditional and religious barriers to accessing and utilizing contraceptive information in the Sunyani East Municipality.

Methodology: The research design was a mixed method combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. The target population was teenagers between the ages of 11 and 19 years in Senior High and Junior High Schools. Out of 87 schools, 16 schools were randomly selected using simple random sampling technique. The total sample size was 212 teenagers.  Data was collected from the respondents, using interviews, questionnaires and focus group discussions. The paper found that ICT is a major means of accessing, sharing and using information about contraceptives by the teenagers, information is hard to access because of societal perceptions, sociocultural and psycho-religious barriers.

Findings: The paper found that ICT has impact on their perceptions, utilization or otherwise, because they now the effects of various kinds of contraceptives.

Recommendation: The paper recommends that teenagers should be given proper ICT education to enable them use credible websites on the internet to get contraceptive information. Education should be intensified through the mass media, free lectures, radio and television discussions to augment the use of ICT to expand the number of teenagers using contraceptive.

 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Abdulai Abubakari

Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University for Development Studies, Tamale

Eunice Prah

Ho School of Hygiene, P. O Box 90, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana

References

Abdullah, K. H. (2007). A Hierarchical Model of Contraceptive use in Urban and Rural Bangladesh, Contraception, Vol. 55, No. 2:91-96.

Abiodun, O. and Balogun, O. (2009). Sexual Activity and Contraceptive Use among Young Female Students of Tertiary Educational Institutions in Ilorin, Nigeria, Contraception. Vol. 79, No. 2:146-9

Addai, I. (1999). Does Religion Matter in Contraceptive Use among Ghanaian Women? Review of Religious Research, Vol. 40; No. 3 African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) (2001). Contraceptive Use Dynamics In Kenya Further Analysis Of Demographic And Health Survey (DHS) Data, Macro International Inc Calverton, Maryland USA.

Ansah, K. A., Blankson, V. S., & kontoh, M. (2012). The Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Front Office Operations of . International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications (IJACSA), ( 3)3, 72-77.

Bertrand, J. Hardee, K. Magnani, J. and Angela, W. (2005). "Access, Quality of Care and Medical Barriers in Family Planning Programs", International Family Planning Perspectives, (21) 2: 64-694

Bracken, M. Farak, M. (2009). Contraception and pregnancy after dropping out of family planning clinics: A national interview survey in Jamaica Social Biology, 23, 55-56.

Buami, E. K. (2013). Internet Using Habit Among Junior High School Students of Nima, Accra - Ghana. International Journal of ICT and Management, ( I) 3 , 133-138.

Caldwell, J.C. and Caldwell, C. P. (1999). The Cultural Context of High Fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa, Pop Dev Rev Vol. 13, No. 3: 409-437

Chetley, Andrew, (ed) (2007). "Improving Health, Connecting People: The Role of ICTs in the Health Sector of Developing Countries A Framework Paper." Washington: info Dev. http://www.infodev.org/en/Document.84.pdf (accessed 7 December, 2015).

Clement, S. and Nyovani, S. (2004). Who Is Being Served Least by Family Planning Providers? A Study of Modern Contraceptive Use in Ghana, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, African Journal of Reproductive Health, Vol. 8, No. 2: 124-136

Foreman, A. Mia, D. (2011) "The Challenges of Integrating Family Planning and Maternal/ Child Health Services." The Population Reference Bureau. http://www.prb.org/Articles/2015/family-planning-maternal-child-health-integration-programs.aspx (accessed December. 7, 2015).

Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, (2008). Ghana Demographic and Health Survey Report (2008), Ghana Statistical Service, Accra.

Ghana Health Service, (2008). Annual Report of Ghana Health Service, 2008, Accra.

Goffman, E. (1963). Stigma: Notes on the management of spoiled identity.

New York, NY: Prentice- Hall.

Green, S., Davis, C., Karshmer, E., Marsh, P., & Straight, B. (2005). Living stigma: The impact of labeling, stereo-typing, separation, status loss, and discrimination in the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families. Sociological Inquiry, 75, 197-215. doi:10.1111/soin.2005.75.issue-2

Ian, A. Alex, E. Bongaarts, J. Townsend, I. (2009). Kenya's Fertility Transition, Determinants and Implications for Policy Programmes. Nairobi, Population Council

Ismet, K. (2000). Determinants of Contraceptive Use and Method Choice in Turkey, Journal of Biological Science, Vol. 32: 329-342

Jaccard, J.J. & Davidson, A.R. (2009). Toward an understanding of family planning behaviours: An initial investigation. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 228-235

Kahad, B. (2010). Determinants of Contraceptive Use in Rural Bangladesh: The Demand for Children, Supply of Children, and Costs of Fertility Regulation, Demography, Vol. 24, No. 3: 361-373

Karr, S.B. (2010). Individual aspirations as related to early and late acceptance of contraception. Journal of Social Psychology, 83, 235-245.

Koray, T. Lisa, A. Hawu, Y. (2000). Determinants of Contraceptive Choice Among Single Women in The United States, Family Planning Perspectives Vol.24, No. 4: p155-173.

Livingston, J., & Boyd, J. (2010). Correlates and consequences of internalized stigma for people living with mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Social Science and Medicine, 71, 2150-2161. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.09.030

Mwaila, M. (2011). "Reproductive Health Services Going Mobile." Posted 19 March, 2011 on GIZ Health Sector Program Blog. http://www.gtzkenyahealth.com/blog3/?p=7403 (accessed December. 7, 2015).

Omondi-Odhiambo, H. (1999). Fertility Change, Family Planning and the Impact of CBD in Siaya District, Kenya. A Study Report for Ministry of Health/ GTZ reproductive Health Project, Kenya.

Phelan, J. C., Link, B. G., & Dovidio, J. F. (2008). Stigma and discrimination: One animal or two? Social Science and Medicine, 67, 358-367. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.03.022

Potts, D. (2009). Coitus interruptus. In Corson S, Derman RJ, Tyrer LB (eds): Fertility Control, pp 299-305.Boston, Little, Brown & Co, 1984

Ranck, J. (2011). "Health Information and Health Care: The Role of Technology in Unlocking Data and Wellness - A Discussion Paper." Washington, D.C.: United Nations Foundation & Vodafone Foundation Technology Partnership, February.

Riddle, J. Estes, W. (2008). Oral contraceptives in Ancient and Medieval times. American Scientist 80: p226.

Sarfo, F., & Ansong-Gyimah, K. (2011). Ghanaian Senior High School students' access to and experiences in the use of Information and Communication Technology. Education in a technological world: communicating current and emerging research and technological efforts .

Scambler, G., & Hopkins, A. (1986). Being epileptic: Coming to terms with stigma. Sociology of Health and Illness, 8, 26-43. doi:10.1111/shil.1986.8.issue-1

Smit, J.A. and Venter, W.M. (1993). Attitudes to family planning in the Natal/KwaZulu Region of South Africa Fertility, Contraception 1993; Vol. 1: 93-100

Solo, J. (2010). Expanding Contraceptive Choice to the Underserved Through Mobile Outreach Service Delivery: a Handbook for Program Planners. Washington, D.C.: USAID,

Sunyani East Municipal Health Directorate, (2013). Annual Report, 2013, Sunyani.

Sunyani East Municipal Health Directorate, (2014). Annual Report, 2014, Sunyani.

Sunyani East Municipal Health Directorate (2015). First Quarter Report, 2015, Sunyani.

Tuladhar, J.M. Holoway, T. (2009). Determinants of Contraceptive Use in Nepal, Journal of Biosocial Science, Vol. 17, No. 2: p185-93.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). (2004). State of World Population Report 2004"”The Cairo Consensus at 10: Population, Reproductive Health, and the Global Effort to End Poverty. New York: UNFPA

World Bank (2003). World Development Report 2004: Making Services Work for Poor People, Washington, DC: World Bank

World Health Organization (2005). World Health Report 2005, Geneva: World Health Organization

Zelnik, M. & Kantner, J.F. (2009). Sexual activity, contraceptive use and pregnancy among metropolitan- area teenagers: 1971-1979. Family Planning Perspectives, "/2, 230-237.

Downloads

Published

2021-10-22

How to Cite

Abubakari , A. ., & Prah, E. . (2021). ICT: Breaking Barriers to Contraceptives Information and Usage among Adolescents in the Sunyani East Municipality, Brong Ahafo Region, Ghana. European Journal of Technology, 5(1), 16–33. https://doi.org/10.47672/ejt.823

Issue

Section

Articles