Abstract

Birth control also known as fertility control or contraceptive are methods or devices  It forms an integral part of maternal and child health. It can also be used in preventing pregnancy before marriage or for educational purpose until life’s goals are attained. But despite its advantages little or nothing is known by so many women of child bearing age thus the  rate of criminal abortion has become very rampant in the society today (25% in Cameroon). The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and practice of birth control methods among female youths in the Ndongo community.

A quantitative cross sectional study design was used in this study. It aimed at assessing the knowledge and practice of the birth control method among female youth in the Ndongo community in February 2023.

Base on objective one it can be concluded that the respondent had good knowledge on the birth control (70%) .Base on objective two which talks on the practices of birth control, it can be concluded that the respondent practices birth control method with 92.0%  practice at least one method of birth control

Base on objective three, which talked on the challenge on the use of birth control. It can be concluded that the most common hindrance include, religious belief, they don’t like it and traditional belief.

Seminars should be held in other to teach mothers on how to overcome the hindrance on birth control method so as to increase the intake

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

This chapter describes the background of the study, problem statement, research objective, research questions, significant of the study, scope of the study and definition of terms.

1.1 Background of the Study

Birth control method is well documented in ancient Egypt. The Ebers Papyrus from 1550BC and the Kahun Papyrus from 1850BC have within them some of the earliest documented descriptions of birth control, the use of honey, acacia leaves and lint to be place in the vagina to block sperm. Another early document explicit referring to birth control methods is the Kahun Gynecological Papyrus from about 1850 BC.

It describes various contraceptive pessaries, including acacia gum, which recent research has confirmed and is still used in contraceptive.  Other birth control methods mentioned in the papyrus include the application of gummy substances to cover the “mouth of the womb” (that is the cervix), a mixture of honey and sodium carbonate applied to the inside of the vagina, and a pessary made from dung. Lactation (breast-feeding) of up to three years was also used for birth control purposes in ancient Egypt. (Richard G, et al, 2005) withdrawal, or coitus interruptus, was also a method of contraception.

Birth control also known as fertility control or contraceptive are methods or devices used in preventing pregnancy (According to Collins English Dictionary). It forms an integral part of maternal and child health. It is a concept many couples or single mothers use in preventing pregnancy. It can also be used in preventing pregnancy before marriage or for educational purpose until life’s goals are attained (Medline Plus, 2021).

The act of contraceptives began centuries ago as early as1850BC by the use of primitive ways like herbs to prevent pregnancy until WHO saw the need to integrate it into the activities of maternal and child health (Sophia Yen, 2022). Today, we can talk of family planning as not only a family issue but a national or international issue because its practice affects WHO statistics either negatively or positively: negatively in that failure to practice or poor application can lead to consequences such as maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, increased child delinquency.

On the other hand, correct practice may go a long way to reduce infant morbidity and mortality, and decreased child delinquency, etc(Jean Wong, 2021). Despite the global acceptance of birth control method, some people still reject its practice due to religious for example the catholic who look at it an act of disobedience to God command ,some for cultural reasons especially in cultures where children are regarded as an increase in work force and also a sign of sexual strength. That notwithstanding, birth control still remains an acceptable global concern and is a tool use in checking an increase in world`s population according to Malthus who says the population is increasing in a geometric rate while food supply is increasing in an arithmetic rate (Malthus ,1826).

Imogene King’s Interaction System Framework and Theory of Goal Attainment

This theory focuses on three levels of dynamic interaction systems in which an individual exist which are the personal system (individual), interpersonal system (group) and the social system (society). The investigator chose this theory because the effective implementation of birth control method(s) depends on the individual, group and society at large.

It depends on individual in the sense that looking at the society, most of the women especially the young commit abortion due to body image especially the unmarried; what the pregnancy is going to do to their shape, the desire to remain young and the perception of aging due to pregnancy and the thought that it’s not yet time for procreation.

It depends on group in that people tend to value their relationship with peer, fear of rejection and/or avoidance by friends and the limitation of interactions among peers so they decide to abort the unwanted pregnancy. It depends on society because of issues like rejection by society and stigmatization, exclusion from religious groups as a result of pregnancy from wedlock, disruption in education, etc. (King 1981 and Sieloff, 2006)

If all these three systems are targeted and proper education given, their understanding of birth control and practice enhanced, it may go a long way to limit this malpractice of abortion due to unwanted pregnancy and its numerous consequences, limiting maternal morbidity and mortality. According to King 1981 and Sieloff, 2006, if an understanding of the social system including the authority, decision makers, organization (such as churches), powers and status is made through proper assessment, and proper education given, it may go a long way to intergrate the practice of birth control by individuals, groups and the society at large as some of the things that prevent its practice will be ascertain and taken care of (King 1981 and Sieloff, 2006).

According to a study conducted by Philip Nana Njotang and co in Yaoundé, the center region of Cameroon, as of November 2014 to April 2015, it was reviled that there is generally a low practice of contraceptive despite the much effort put in by the government.

From their study, it shows that the continuous increase in maternal mortality has a link with the implementation of birth control. In their study, it was discovered that some women do not practice birth control due to religious reasons, some (singles) because parent never approve of it, some because their spouse never approved of it and still others due to lack of knowledge. It was concluded in this study that if the knowledge of the population on contraceptive can be increased, there will likely be an increase in its practice which may lead to a reduction in maternal mortality (Philip Nana Njotang et al., 2015).

According to another study conducted by Dickson Shey and co in the Cameroon Development Corporation camps in the South West Region of Cameroon as of 2021, it was proven that the use of contraceptives has a significant positive impact in the reduction of maternal mortality of these population (in Tiko and Pendamboko precisely). Equally, it was also reviled by DicksonShey and co after their study that the practice of birth control methods was very low in their area of study giving the impression that the high maternal morbidity and mortality was linked to this poor practice of contraceptives (Dickson Shey et al.,2021).

Another related study carried by Dickson Shey and co in the CDC camps in the south west region of Cameroon equally shows that poor practice of contraceptives especially among women of low socioeconomic status is linked to poor knowledge on contraceptives, religious beliefs, traditional beliefs, refusal of spouse, etc (Dickson Shey et al., 2021).

1.2 Problem Statement

The rate of criminal abortion has become very rampant in the society today (25% in Cameroon) (DHS 2012). Something that was regarded as a taboo to be mentioned is gradually becoming a normal thing nowadays.

Unsafe abortion is responsible for 30% of maternal deaths in Cameroon. Despite that the government of Cameroon has added birth control method as part of the minimum package of health in all primary health care (DHS, 2O12), criminal abortion is still rampant.

A critical look at the situation reveals in Ndongo community where one girl was rush to the hospital committing a criminal abortion where the researcher was doing her internship. She had bled so much that she could not stand on her feet and with all the effort from health personnel’s she still died. Despite all the effort put in place by health personnel’s and the government the rate of criminal abortion still increases which has push me to ask this question.

1.3 Research Questions

1. Do these women know about birth control method or contraceptive at all?
2. If they know, are they practicing it?
3. If they are not practicing what could be the possible reasons for not practicing? Assessing their knowledge and practice of contraceptives may go a long way to prevent unwanted pregnancy and limit criminal abortion.

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