Perceptions of healthcare providers on the provision of contraceptives to adolescents at Mitundu Community Hospital, Lilongwe
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Date
2020-09-01
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Abstract
Contraceptive use among adolescents is still low in Malawi and Mitundu community hospital catchment population is not an exception. This has contributed to increased
adolescent pregnancy rate which contributes to obstetric complications and high abortion rates among adolescents. Several barriers are contributing to adolescents’ underutilization of contraceptive methods and one of them is unfriendly attitudes of healthcare providers in the provision of contraceptives to adolescents. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of healthcare providers on the provision of contraceptives to adolescents at Mitundu community hospital. The following were the objectives of the study; to explore healthcare providers’ views towards the provision of contraceptives to adolescents and to identify challenges that healthcare providers encounter in the provision of contraceptives to adolescents. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted among healthcare providers who are working at Mitundu community hospital. The study recruited 10 participants through purposive sampling method. A semi-structured interview guide was utilized to collect data which was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that most of the healthcare providers were uncomfortable to provide contraceptives to adolescents due to various perceptions which they hold. Some of the perceptions established were contraceptive provision influences adolescent sexual behavior, fear of contraceptives side effects, and the idea that condoms only and not hormonal contraceptives are for adolescents. This posed a dilemma among providers to balance their personal beliefs and professional roles hence they prescribed condoms and abstinence to adolescents who went to the hospital seeking contraceptive methods. Despite this, healthcare providers face different challenges when providing contraceptives to adolescents, and these include lack of privacy, shortage of staff, and unavailability of hormonal contraceptives. As such, vi
the researcher recommends that Reproductive Health Directorate and District Management organize training on Youth Friendly Health Services for nurses and the clinical team. It is also important that they should provide supportive supervision and get regular updates on adolescents’ uptake of contraceptives. It is also necessary that Mitundu Community Hospital management should lobby for more staff to work in the youth centre. The study findings may provide a basis to carry out a similar study in a similar setting on a larger scale to make the transferability of the findings possible.