Asian Journal of Advances in Medical Science

This research established the knowledge, perception, associated with health seeking behaviour and the use of contraceptives among female hawkers in Ikeene Local Government Area of Ogun State.

A cross-sectional survey research design was employed in the study. Four hundred and twenty-two (422) female hawkers were sampled. A self-designed questionnaire was the main instrument used for data collection, which was pilot tested through test-re-test and yielded a rehabilitation”Knowledge was measured on 19-point rating scale, perception was measured on 42-point rating scale, environmental variables was measured on 18-point rating scale, enabling variables was measured on 12-point rating scale, health seeking behaviour was measured on a 11 point rating scale and contraceptive use was measured on 7-point rating scale. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics (correlation and regression) to give statistical response to the research questions and hypotheses at the 0.5 significant levels.

The result showed that the mean age of the respondents was 15.14±2.42 years. More than half (61.9%) of the respondents were Christians and less than half (43%) were Yoruba. More than half (60.95%) of the respondents had no formal education. Less than half (45.2%) of the respondents had a good level of knowledge on contraceptive use. Most (65.5%) of the respondents had moderate perception. More than half (56%) of the respondents had high environmental factors that reinforce contraceptive use. Few (16.2%) of the respondents reported that their friends encourage them to use contraceptive. The majority (89.3%) of the respondents had low enabling factors that discourage the use of contraceptives. More than half (62.1%) of the respondents had moderate health-seeking behaviour. More than half (61.2%) of the respondents obtained the information on contraceptive from health worker. Majority (95.7%) of the respondents had low contraceptive use. There is a significant relationship between respondents knowledge and contraceptive use (r= 0.144; p=0.0003). Also, there is a significant relationship between respondents perception and health-seeking behaviour towards contraceptive use (r= 0.12; p=0.01).

In conclusion, adolescent female hawkers had moderate level of knowledge, perception, and moderate health seeking behaviour and low contraceptive use. This study recommends that Local government area officials should establish community based youth friendly clinics to promote easy access to contraceptives.