Predictors of intention to use modern contraceptives among female senior secondary school students in the Kpando Municipality, Ghana
Outcomes: Sexual and Reproductive Health
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways This study highlights that even when social norms (such as parental or peer support) are weak or unsupportive, girls’ own sense of empowerment and perceived control plays a decisive role in shaping their reproductive intentions. Interventions should focus not only on shifting social norms but also on building young women’s self-efficacy and confidence to make autonomous reproductive decisions, especially in contexts where discussing sexuality is culturally sensitive or taboo.
Objectives This study aimed to identify the predictors of intention to use modern contraceptives among female senior secondary school students in the Kpando Municipality, Ghana, using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) framework to understand the roles of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control.
Methods The researchers conducted a cross-sectional quantitative study using a pretested self-administered questionnaire with 270 female students, analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. They measured social norms (subjective norms), attitudes toward contraception, and perceived control over contraceptive use to assess their relationship with the students’ intention to use modern contraceptives.
Results While 69.3% of the students reported an intention to use modern contraceptives, only 37% perceived supportive subjective norms, and 59.3% had positive attitudes toward contraceptive use. Crucially, perceived behavioral control — including confidence in convincing partners, accessing services, and using contraceptives — emerged as the only significant predictor of intention. Students with strong perceived control were almost 10 times more likely to express the intention to use modern contraceptives, regardless of social support or attitudes.
Conclusions The study concludes that enhancing girls’ sense of control over their contraceptive choices is vital for increasing their intention to use modern contraceptives. While social support and attitudes matter, they alone do not predict intention without the perception of personal control.
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