F. Bisrat, HIGH-SCHOOL-STUDENTS KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF CONTRACEPTION IN HARER TOWN, EASTERN ETHIOPIA, Ethiopian medical journal, 32(3), 1994, pp. 151-159
A survey of knowledge, and practice of contraception was carried out a
mong 1,674 students (mean age 17.4 years) in Harer town, eastern Ethio
pia. Fifty-four per cent of the students spontaneously mentioned a mod
ern contraceptive method when asked, but large numbers of students did
not know the answers to specific questions about prevention of pregna
ncy. The students were receptive to more information in schools on sex
uality and contraception. Overall, 20 % of females and 65 % of males a
dmitted to having had sexual intercourse at least once. Among sexually
active females, 60 % said they were using a contraceptive method. How
ever, 76 % of these were using only the calendar method. . Twenty per
cent of the sexually experienced female students had been pregnant, an
d of these 56 % had elected for induced abortions. If only unmarried s
tudents are considered, 75 % of those who had been pregnant had had an
induced abortion. Since induced abortions are not legal in Ethiopia,
these students are at high risk for complications of abortions.