Adolescent reproductive health challenges among schoolgirls in southeast Nigeria: role of knowledge of menstrual pattern and contraceptive adherence

Figures & data

Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics of respondents

Characteristics	Frequency (n=482)	Percentage
Age (years)
13	18	3.7
14	24	5.0
15	146	30.3
16	130	27.0
17	118	24.5
18	32	6.6
19	14	2.9
Age at menarche (years)
9	2	0.4
10	12	2.5
11	43	8.9
12	57	11.8
13	133	27.6
14	144	29.9
15	75	15.6
16	16	3.3
Social class of the parents
I	23	4.8
II	86	17.8
III	219	45.4
IV	124	25.7
V	30	6.2

Table 2 Menstrual characteristics of respondents

Characteristics	Frequency (n=482)	Percentage
Menstrual cycle length (days)
21–23	51	10.6
24–26	57	11.8
27–29	203	42.1
30–32	75	15.6
33–35	30	6.2
Irregular cycle	29	6.0
Ignorant of cycle length	37	7.7
Menstrual flow duration (days)
2–3	58	12.0
4–5	310	64.3
6–7	114	23.7
Menstrual problems*
Dysmenorrhea	309	64.1
Premenstrual symptoms	362	75.1
Use of self-medication	69	14.3
Absenteeism from school	59	12.2
None	89	18.5

Note

* Students were free to tick more than one option.

Table 3 Source of menstrual information, history of sexual activity, and awareness and practice of modern contraception among the adolescent girls

Characteristics	Frequency	Percentage
Source of menstrual information* (n=482)
Mothers	393	81.5
Friends	77	16.0
Teachers	49	15.6
Books	15	3.1
None	33	6.2
Prior history of sexual activity (n=482)
Yes	101	21.0
No	381	79.0
Awareness of modern contraception* (n=482)
Condom	357	74.1
Oral contraceptive pills	282	58.5
Injectable contraceptives	111	23.0
Intrauterine devices	36	7.5
None	117	24.3
Source of information on modern contraception* (n=365)
Parents	51	14.0
Friends	215	58.9
Mass media	186	51.0
Hospital	43	11.8
Teachers	27	7.4
Books	33	9.0
Ever used modern contraception (n=482)
Yes	43	8.9
No	439	91.1
Adherence to modern contraception (n=43)
Yes	8	18.6
No	35	81.4
Types of modern contraception ever used (n=43)
Condoms	28	65.1
Oral contraceptive pills	13	30.2
Injectable contraceptives	2	4.7
Awareness of emergency contraceptives* (n=482)
Yes	89	18.5
No	393	81.5
Ever used emergency contraception (n=89)
Yes	15	16.9
No	74	83.1
Emergency contraceptives used by the respondents (n=17)
Oral contraceptive pills	13	86.7
Injectable contraceptives	2	13.3

Note:

* Students were free to tick more than one option.

Table 4 Effect of sociodemographic characteristics on sexual activity

Characteristics	Sexual activity		P-value
	Yes	No
Age (years)
≤15	23	165	0.0002*
>15	78	216
Age at menarche (years)
≤13	73	174	0.0001*
≥14	28	207
Social class of the parents
≤II	14	95	0.02*
≥III	87	286

Note:

* Statistically significant.