Knowledge perception barriers and utilization of contraceptives toward adolescients responsive services of family planning in Surkhet Nepal

Abstract

Background: This study focuses on adolescent-friendly family planning services in Nepal's Karnali Province, where teenage pregnancy rates are high. Using data from the 2022 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey, it aims to understand obstacles hindering adolescents' access to quality family planning services and their views on service quality. There's limited research on this topic, especially regarding unmarried adolescents. The study aims to fill this gap by identifying barriers and providing insights to improve adolescent reproductive health outcomes. Objective of the Study: To assess the Knowledge, perceptions, barriers, and utilizations of contraceptives toward adolescent for adolescents’ responsive family planning services in Surkhet, Nepal. Methods: a mixed-method approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to collect primary data. A cross-sectional explorative design was adopted to comprehensively examine adolescents' barriers, perceptions, and utilization of contraceptive methods in relation to family planning services. Data were gathered through focused group discussions, and self-administered questionnaires to elicit insights into family planning perceptions and key barriers. A semi-structured standard questionnaire was utilized to assess perceptions, barriers, and contraceptive utilization among adolescents accessing family planning services. Quantitative data were obtained using a simple random sampling technique. Conclusion: This study highlights high awareness of family planning among Nepalese adolescents, yet the utilization rate is only 67.9%, indicating significant barriers. Individual factors like embarrassment, social fears, and lack of awareness of adolescent-friendly services, along with inadequate counseling, cultural taboos, and facility issues, impede use. Demographic factors such as having a boyfriend or girlfriend significantly increase these barriers, with partnered individuals 17 times more likely to face challenges. Qualitative insights point to social media and peer networks as key sources of information, stressing the need for targeted interventions. To improve family planning use among adolescents, tailored awareness campaigns, better counseling, and adolescent-friendly health services are essential.