Sexuality Fertility and Contraction Knowledge and Attitude Among Secondary School Girls in Dar Es Salaam

Ignorance and misinformation about basic reproduction biology, aside from lack of contraceptive sophistication, are increasingly becoming acknowledged as important factors underling unplanned adolescent, including school girls pregnancy. In Tanzania between 1970 and 1982, 24,977 Primary and Secondary school girls were expelled from school because of pregnancy, while reports from Muhimbili Medical Center indicate that between 1976 and 1979 an annual average of 87 schoolgirls were admitted for complications illegal abortion with a case fatality rate of 25%. This study was undertaken to survey prevailing knowledge and attitude about aspects of reproductive biology and contraception among a sample of 332 Dar es salaam secondary schoolgirls aged between 13-22 years by means of structured preceded questionnaire in September 1984. The findings indicate that ignorance and misinformation about both reproductive biology and contraception prevail sufficiently to predispose to high rates of pregnancy among sexually active schoolgirls. While the majority of the girls indicate disapproval towards premarital sex, they also in apparent contradiction equally approved the provision of contraceptive facilities for schoolgirls. Discussion of the findings focuses mainly in providing explanations on the planning of an appropriate remedial educational programme. Recommendation are made to provide family life education within prevailing restrictions to ameliorate the ignorance and misinformation while long term action plans are also outlined that aim at incorporation of family life education in the school curriculum as part of a comprehensive adolescent pregnancy control programme.