Knowledge and attitude towards female condom use among women attending antenatal services in Gulu Regional Referral Hospital

Abstract

The objectives of this study was to establish the Knowledge and attitude of women attending antenatal services in Gulu Regional Referral Hospital towards the use of female condom as an STD/HIV prevention and contraception measure so that they get protected. The specific objectives of the study were to establish the knowledge of women attending antenatal services about the use of the female condoms in preventing STI/ HIV and contraception, to determine the prevalence of female condoms use among women attending antenatal services in Gulu regional referral Hospital and finally to assess the attitudes of women attending antenatal services in Gulu regional referral Hospital towards female condoms use. The study population consisted of 385 respondents and a sample of 345 respondents which included the mothers and nurses/ midwives working in antenatal unit. A descriptive research design was used in the study. Quantitative data was analyzed by employing descriptive statistics using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS, version 20.0) and the data is then presented using frequency distribution tables and pie chart.

Findings indicated that low level of education, spousal attitude, and religion belief were some of the factors that hinder uptake of female condoms that in turn lead to it consequences. While from the other hand, factors like level of exposure, knowledge and attitude of mothers does not interfere with the uptake of female condom. Out of 330 mothers interviewed, only 10.3% agreed to have used female condom and 89.7% disagreed. The study concluded that female condom uptake among mothers attending antenatal services in Gulu regional referral hospital is very low due to some of the above factors. The study therefore recommended that there is a need for the district officials and the available partners to reconsider their strategy as regards the promotion of the female condom in the district and also sensitizing/ educating the general public about the female condom and training them how to use it well. They need to know why they should use the female condom and its advantages to women should be fully explained.