Ahmed Yasin Mohammed, Abate Lette Wodera and Musa Kumbi Ketaro
Background: Unwanted pregnancy is one of the major maternal problems in developing countries including Ethiopia, which is mainly caused by contraceptive failure, early marriage, premarital sex, rape and poor knowledge of family planning method. Nowadays, from all births occurring in developing countries 20-40% is unwanted. In Ethiopia, more than half of pregnancy encountered by adolescents is unwanted pregnancy.
Objective: The aim of this study is to assess female students’ knowledge and experience of unwanted pregnancy among preparatory school, and technical and vocational education training students in southeast Ethiopia.
Methods: A school based cross sectional study was conducted using self-administered questionnaires. The study was conducted among regular female students in technical and vocational education training college and preparatory school in Ginnir town. We used random sampling method to select the study participants. We used pretested and structure questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were done for each variable. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20 software.
Result: A total of 177 female students were participated in the study. Out of the total participants about 79% of them mentioned that they have knowledge about unwanted pregnancy. Around twenty percent of respondents have experienced pregnancy and all the pregnancies were unwanted. Socio-economic status (28.23%), failure of contraceptive (33.9%), rape (36.16%), premarital sex (45.2%) and lack of awareness (44.63%) were cause of unwanted pregnancy.
Conclusion and recommendation: In this study the prevalence of unwanted pregnancy is high. Unwanted pregnancy is a sensitive issue and one fifths of the female students still have no awareness about it; especially those who came from rural areas. Therefore; technical and vocational education training college, Ginnir high school administration and other concerned bodies have better to give special attention on the impact of this current problem.