A brief educational intervention changes knowledge and attitudes about long acting reversible contraception for adolescents in rural Ghana

Abstract

Knowledge and attitudes about adolescent childbearing, contraception, and long acting reversible contraception (LARC) were assessed among 52 female adolescents and 48 parents of female adolescents in Manso Nkwanta, Ghana, before and after an educational intervention. The 30-minute intervention addressed safety and effectiveness of contraception, with emphasis on intrauterine devices and contraceptive implants (LARC methods). The survey was designed to evaluate knowledge and attitudes toward adolescent pregnancy, contraception, and education of adolescent females. Baseline knowledge of the medical and social risks of adolescent childbearing were high, but only 61% of adolescents and 54% of parents knew that contraception was safe for adolescents. Adolescents and parents both improved in LARC knowledge, and more participants had positive attitudes toward LARC compared to baseline after the intervention. A brief, focused educational intervention can improve knowledge and create favorable attitudes toward LARC.