ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND CONTRACEPTIVE PRACTICE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN WEST AFRICAN PEOPLES INSTITUTE, CALABAR

ABSTRACT This study aims to understand Knowledge and contraceptive practice among secondary School students in West African People's Institute, Calabar. To direct this study, three specific objectives and one hypothesis were raised namely to: assess the level of knowledge of contraceptive among secondary school students, examine contraceptive practice, determine access to contraceptives and determine relationship between knowledge and practice of contraceptives. A cross sectional research design was used to recruit 302 respondents using stratified sampling technique. Findings on level of knowledge reveals 98 (32.5%) demonstrated good knowledge, 127 (42.1%) had moderate knowledge, and 77 (25.5%) had poor knowledge. Contraceptive practice shows that 132(44.0%) of the respondents do contraceptive practice among secondary school students. Access to contraceptives indicates 81(26.8%) respondents do have accessed to contraceptives. A chi- square value of 22.107 was significant at 0.05 showing a significant relationship between knowledge and practice of contraceptive among secondary school students at West African People's Institute, Calabar Implement comprehensive sex education programs in schools to equip adolescents with accurate information about contraception, addressing myths and promoting responsible decision- making was recommended. Word Count: 176 Keywords: Contraceptive, knowledge, practice, secondary school students.