“They Will Wonder What Kind of a Girl I Am”: Adolescent Perceptions towards Contraceptive Use in Nairobi

As in other developing countries, contraceptive use among adolescents is low and only one in twenty adolescents is reported to use contraceptives inKenya. Pregnancies early in life expose adolescents to health complications. Establishing perceptions that affect contraception and factors that influence those perceptions is important in developing appropriate programs and policies to increase contraceptive use prevalence among adolescents. We used primary data from a household survey using a systematic random sampling in eight administrative divisions inNairobiCountyin 2010. The study utilized information collected using structured interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs). The findings revealed that perceptions on parental approval, adolescent approval, ability to get contraceptives for self, knowledge of how to use contraceptives and sexual partner communication had significant effect on contraception. The narratives showed that parents, teachers and service providers had negative perceptions and discouraged contraception among adolescents thereby influencing use. Parents and teachers had inadequate knowledge and skills to communicate sexuality messages creating potential environment likely to have indirect negative influence on adolescents’ perceptions on contraception.

对传染病住院患儿家长对临床护理告知认知现状的调查

目的调查传染病住院患儿家长对临床护理告知工作的认知状况，了解家长对护理告知的潜在需求，探讨改善护理告知的方式及方法。方法采用自行设计的传染病住院患儿家长对临床护理告知认知调查表对2011年5—8月儿科病房住院的110名患儿家长进行调查，采用卡方检验对调查结果进行分析。结果不同学历、不同地区和不同工作的患儿家长对告知权利和义务知晓率不同，差异有统计学意义（X2分别为16．587，10．261，8．196；P〈0．05），其中学历越高，知晓率越高；城市家长知晓率最高为96．4％，农村家长知晓率最低为67．6％；在职患儿家长知晓率较高为95．0％，农民家长知晓率最低为71．1％；不同年龄段的患儿家长对护士告知认知情况不同，差异有统计学意义（x2=7．728，P〈0．05）；在告知率方面，责任护士〉护士长〉值班护士。家长对人住院后环境介绍、主管医生、护士及病房的规章制度的需求最为迫切。结论在告知过程中应重视传染病消毒防护措施的知识讲解和培训，根据不同患儿家长文化教育水平及年龄采取有针对性的告知方式，护士告知时机可选择在病情发生变化时，利于家长理解，同时护士应该注意提高告知技巧。